NW Florida Residential Development Creates 250-Acre Gopher Tortoise Habitat

the bounce agency

PACE, Fla. (May 10, 2007) – Jubilee, the Florida Panhandle's first new urban community, is setting a precedent for environmental stewardship by creating a 250-acre gopher tortoise habitat. The gopher tortoise, whose name comes from its fondness for digging burrows, is a species of special concern in Florida.

The biggest threat to the gopher tortoise's survival is habitat loss. They need large parcels of undisturbed land in order to thrive. In an effort to reaffirm its commitment to land and wildlife stewardship, Jubilee's developers, The Eagle Group, opted to preserve any gopher tortoises on its 2700-acre development site by forming the habitat. The area will be named The Lexie NG Gopher Tortoise Habitat, in honor of the research scientist in Northern California whose passion is to better understand the species.

Keith Johnson, an environmental scientist and partner of Wetland Sciences, Inc. who is overseeing the Lexie NG Gopher Tortoise Habitat, estimates that there are approximately 39 tortoises inhabiting the first 588 acres to be developed. Johnson and his team are currently in the process of relocating these tortoises to their designated new residence. As phases two and three of Jubilee are developed, any additional tortoises found will be added to the habitat.

The habitat will be accessible by residents, but not in a hands-on type setting. Visitors will be able to observe the tortoises and their burrows, which will be a wooded site with some enhanced characteristics making it a more comfortable home for the scarce species.

ABOUT JUBILEE, FLORIDA
Jubilee, Florida, is a new community inspired by the finest traditions of historic Southern towns. Located in Pace, Florida, approximately 15 miles north of Pensacola, Jubilee sits on more than 2,700 acres of un-Florida-like rolling terrain with elevation crests of up to 200 feet. Less than half of the total acreage will be impacted during development with 1,620 acres – 60% – designated to remain green space.