FWC honors five Okaloosa and Walton county landowners for wildlife conservation efforts

The FWC’s Landowner Assistance Program honored landowners across the Panhandle through its Wildlife Habitat Recognition Program, which awards recipients a sign to display on their property and a certificate recognizing their conservation efforts.

Three Okaloosa County landowners were among those recognized:

• Gary Breilmayer and Family with Good-Mayer LLC
• Calvin Robinson with The Fleming Creek Farm
• Edwin Henry with the Welannee Plantation

In Walton County, Brett Wilson and Family with Limestone Creek Farms and Gary Johnson and Family with Square-J Farm were also honored.

“We’re recognizing these landowners for their enduring commitment to the ecosystem and its wildlife, plants and animals,” said Ed O’Daniels, FWC Private Lands Regional Coordinator. “Through their stewardship and dedication, they have helped preserve these natural resources not only for themselves, but for future generations to enjoy and benefit from them.”

The recognized landowners range in experience from a few years of land stewardship to several decades, according to the FWC. Their practices include longleaf pine replanting, prescribed burning, hardwood tree management, the establishment of a family tree farm, the introduction of pollinator-friendly plants and the development of wildlife openings. Those efforts have benefited species including bobwhite quail, turkeys, gopher tortoises, white-tailed deer and fox squirrels, the FWC said.

Some members of the group have also received the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Stewardship Forest Certification and the National Wild Turkey Federation Wild Turkey Woodlands Recognition Program.

The FWC’s Landowner Assistance Program offers written management plans to guide landowners interested in working toward meeting the requirements for the recognition program. Landowners of 20 acres or more can apply online at MyFWC.com/LAP.