New Segment of The Florida Trail Offers Hikers a View of Rare Ecosystems

Groups offer guided hikes of new trail following ribbon-cutting ceremony

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, FLORIDA — October 15, 2008 — A new section of The Florida Trail officially opens to hikers on Saturday, October 25, at 9 a.m. following a grand opening ceremony held in Seven Runs Creek Recreational Area.

The new trail section allows hikers to enjoy a 20-mile walk in the woods paralleling Lafayette Creek in southern Walton County, and across Nokuse Plantation. The 1,400-mile Florida Trail previously ran along the roadway before it enters Eglin Air Force Base; the new 20-mile segment closes a major gap between SR 81 and US 331. Following a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the trail segment’s opening, visitors can take guided hikes led by trail blazers and area naturalists.

Anyone interested in attending the grand opening, should contact Vernon Compton in The Nature Conservancy’s Milton office to RSVP. He can be reached at 850-623-0987 or vcompton@tnc.org.

“The U.S. Forest Service is privileged to manage the Florida National Scenic Trail, and pleased to announce the opening of the Nokuse Plantation section of the statewide footpath,” said Susan Matthews, forest supervisor for the National Forests in Florida. “The trail is a part of Florida's natural and cultural heritage, and is a precious gift that will be passed from one generation to the next.”

The new trail section was made possible by an agreement between the U.S. Forest Service and Nokuse Plantation founder M.C. Davis. Nokuse Plantation is a 48,058-acre private conservation initiative in the Florida Panhandle. The plantation is an active member of the Gulf Coast Plain Ecosystem Partnership (GCPEP), a public-private partnership that cooperates on conservation projects and management of more than a million acres in northwest Florida and south Alabama. Land management along the new trail segment in Nokuse Plantation is part of GCPEP’s efforts in the region.

“Our trail provides the perfect opportunity for the public to enjoy substantial interaction with nature,” said M.C. Davis, founder and owner of Nokuse Plantation. “These experiences will afford recreation, education, and for many a rekindling of the spirit.”

The Florida Trail’s first blaze was painted in 1966 and the trail achieved a National Scenic Trail designation in 1983. The trail extends from Everglades National Park to the Gulf Islands National Seashore near Pensacola. The Florida Trail is one of eight National Scenic Trails in the United States.

“This 20-mile long section of the Florida Trail offers the public a wonderful opportunity to explore the Nokuse Plantation and the Northwest Florida Water Management District's lands along Lafayette and Magnolia creeks,” said Peter S. Durnell, president of the Florida Trail Association. “The Florida Trail Association and its volunteers who built and maintain this hiking trail thank the USDA Forest Service, Nokuse Plantation and the District for their continuing partnership in support of the Florida Trail.”

Florida’s Panhandle is one of the United States’ top six most biologically diverse regions. The state’s western Panhandle includes the largest remaining stands of natural longleaf pine forests. These forests shelter rare and endangered species, such as the red-cockaded woodpecker—a species listed as federally endangered.

“The Northwest Florida Water Management District is honored to be a continuing partner with the USDA Forest Service, Nokuse Plantation and the Florida Trail Association in the development and dedication of this vital segment of the Florida National Scenic Trail,” said Bill Cleckley, director of the Division of Land Management and Acquisition for The Northwest Florida Water Management District. “In addition to providing public access and hiking opportunities through public and private conservation lands, the Nokuse Plantation trail segment allows hikers the opportunity to see unique Steephead habitats, gopher tortoise relocation and restoration efforts and longleaf pine and wiregrass habitat restoration activities while traversing a varied landscape from Eglin Air Force Base to the Choctawhatchee River Water Management Area.”

Recent research sponsored by The Nature Conservancy and conducted by researchers from the University of Chicago-Illinois found a long-term decline in nature-based recreation, such as fishing, camping and visits to parks.

“Providing opportunities for people to experience nature first-hand is critical for the future of conservation in Florida,” said Vernon Compton, project director for The Nature Conservancy’s Gulf Coast Plain Ecosystem Partnership. “The new Florida Trail section through Nokuse Plantation provides another important opportunity for people to connect with and learn about one of the most biologically diverse regions in the nation.”

Media Contacts:

For the U.S. Forest Service: Michelle Mitchell, 850-523-8538

For The Nature Conservancy: David Dadurka, 407-682-3664 ext. 127, ddadurka@tnc.org

For Florida Trail Association: Deborah Stewart-Kent, 352-378-8823, dstewart-kent@floridatrail.org

For Northwest Florida Water Management District: Bill Cleckley, 850-539-5999, Bill.Cleckley@nwfwmd.state.fl.us

The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. The Conservancy and its more than 1 million members have protected nearly 120 million acres worldwide. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at www.nature.org.