Environmental Resources

  This resource toolkit has been crafted to equip you and your organization with information meant to support the implementation of the Environmental Pillar of the Strategic Plan. Your best resource is eConnect, where you can ask questions and connect with other Park and Recreation professionals who may have the answers to your questions.
Funding Opportunities for Environmental Projects
Equitable Funding Hub from City Parks Alliance
Contacts for Continuing Education
Fliers for Outreach
CAPRA Standards-------
7.8 - Environmental Sustainability Policy and Program
7.9 - Natural Resource Management Plans and Procedures 
7.9.1 - Recycling and/or Zero Waste Plan
 

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DESIGN
Habitat friendly, wildlife connectivity, native landscaping, cost reduction, CPTED, environmental design

Florida Native Plant Society
Florida Audubon Society
LEED
Natural Areas Association

Native Landscaping: https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/ornamentals/native-plants.html 
Urban Nature Benefits: Psycho-Social Dimensions of People and Plants [Center for Urban Horticulture]
Using Case Studies in Urban Forestry Education [Center for Urban Horticulture]
Ergonomics of the City: Green Infrastructure and Social Benefits [Center for Urban Horticulture]
City Parks, Clean Water Report [The Trust for Public Land]
City of Tampa Urban Forest Analysis
What are Trees Worth to Cities? [CityLab]
Resilient Design [ASLA]
Structure, function and value of street trees in California, USAE [Urban Forestry and Urban Greening]
The 2070 Project [1000 Friends of Florida, DACS, UF GeoPlan Center]
Native Plant Communities Map [plant REAL FLORIDA]
Planting Healthy Air [The Nature Conservancy]
The Importance of Structural Pruning of Hardwood Trees [Brian Hopper, FRPA Journal]
Athens-Clarke County, GA Community Trees BP (example document)

RESILIENCY
Reacting to/preparing for climate change impacts, water table rise, storm impacts, sustainability

Tampa Bay Estuary Program
Urban Sustainability Directors Network
Resilience Hubs
NOAA

Living Shorelines: https://floridalivingshorelines.com
2019 SE FL Regional Climate Change Compact [Broward Co, Miami Dade Co, Palm Beach Co, Monroe Co]
Estimate of the Ecosystem Services of Existing Conservation Collier Lands [Collier County, FL]
Wildlife 2060:What's at Stake for Florida [Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission]
Earth Matters [Mother Nature Network]
Ergonomics of the City: Green Infrastructure and Social Benefits [Center for Urban Horticulture]
Resilient Design [ASLA]
Structure, function and value of street trees in California, USAE [Urban Forestry and Urban Greening]
The 2070 Project [1000 Friends of Florida, DACS, UF GeoPlan Center]
Planting Healthy Air [The Nature Conservancy]
American Shore and Beach Preservation Association 
The Institute for Regional Conservation: Conservation of rare plants, animals, and ecosystems

WATER QUALITY
Increasing positive impact, decreasing negative impact

WWF (World Wildlife Federation)
4Ocean
Nature Conservancy

City Parks, Clean Water Report [The Trust for Public Land]
American Shore and Beach Preservation Association 

BUILDING THE NEXT GENERATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDS
Programming, volunteer groups

LEEF
Keep Florida Beautiful


The Nature of Americans, Florida Report [natureofamericans.org]
Ocean Conservancy International Coastal Cleanup
NRPA's Parks for Monarchs Program
The Bee Lab [US Geological Survey]
Local Florida Beekeeper Associations
Urban Forests [American Forests]
iTree
The Florida Conservation Coalition
Example Orlando Tree Tour 

RESPONSIBLE GENERAL PARK MAINTENANCE
Pruning, mowing, prescribed fire, etc.

ISA
Prescribed Fire Council
Natural Areas Association


Integrated Vegetation Management (IVM)
The Importance of Structural Pruning of Hardwood Trees [Brian Hopper, FRPA Journal]
Webinar: Sports Field Management & Maintenance for Sustainability (2012)
Webinar: Designing Sustainable Splash Pads (2012)

IFAS County Extension Services 
Example Partnership Programs between Counties and IFAS
IFAS List by County
IFAS Offers training in the following categories (contact Anita Neal at asn@ufl.edu):
    Master Naturalist Program
    Water conservation in park landscapes
    Green Industry Best Management Practices (GIBMPs)
    Restricted Use Pesticide License trainings: General Standards (Core), Aquatic, Natural Areas Weed management, Ornamental and Turf
    Equipment safety training
    Pest management in buildings
    Turfgrass: fertilizing, diagnosing common insect and disease problems, calibrating spreaders and sprayers Landscape     Maintenance: fertilizing, diagnosing common insect and disease problems, irrigation calibration
    Maintaining sports turf
    Landscape codes
    Florida Grades and Standards for Nursery Plants
    Tree canopy initiatives
    Urban forests
    Pond and lake management
    Street and parks tree care 
    Hurricane Preparedness for parks (pruning)
    Composting and mulching
    Pollination of plants in parks
    Right Plant/Right Place/Florida Friendly Landscapes

 

 CAPRA STANDARDS
7.8 - Environmental Sustainability Policy and Program
Standard:  The agency shall have an established policy on environmental sustainability that states the agency position on energy and resource conservation. The policy should address sustainable product purchasing; reduction and handling of waste; wise use and protection of land, air, water and wildlife; and sustainable design/construction of buildings and facilities.  

7.9 - Natural Resource Management Plans and Procedures 
Standard:  There shall be natural resource management plans for environmentally unique or sensitive areas such as valuable wetlands, riverbanks and woodlands and there shall be environmental protection procedures, such as for erosion control, conduct of nature studies, wildlife and habitat preservation, and protection of water supply reservoirs and water recharge areas.  Even if the agency does not own or control the natural resource, there shall be procedures to encourage and ensure environmental stewardship through volunteer steward programs and/or interpretive education and other learning opportunities.  The agency should work with other agencies to meet and promote environmentally sound maintenance and land management standards.

7.9.1 - Recycling and/or Zero Waste Plan
Standard:  There shall be a recycling and/or zero waste plan for park and recreation facilities and administrative offices that is systematically monitored and periodically reviewed. The plan shall also include an educational component for both users and employees. The recycling and/or zero waste plan should include all major products suitable for recycling in the given region with an emphasis on making the recycling process easy and convenient for park and recreation users.