On their farm in Alachua, Anne Shermyen and John Shermyen have acres of cow pasture, woodland trails for horseback riding and a big vegetable garden. When they reached retirement age, the Shermyens began to consider what would happen to their 85-acre property in the future.
“Part of this is really making a family decision about your legacy,” said 70-year-old John Shermyen. “Your heirs, do they share your vision and values of how you want to maintain and preserve the property?”
Ultimately, the Shermyens decided to enter into a conservation easement, a legal agreement involving development rights, with the Alachua Conservation Trust. The Shermyens still own their property but have given up development rights to the trust, which permanently preserves the land as an ecological sanctuary.
In Alachua County, more than 30,000 acres have been protected under similar land agreements. In January, the trust facilitated an agreement with a 550-acre dairy farm in Gilchrist County. The farm has been owned for multiple generations by the Watson family, who will receive $1.54 million through the easement.
While the Shermyens donated their land in the easement, most landowners receive a payout for giving up development rights.
Estate planning, debt alleviation and tax write-offs are some of the financial benefits that can come from entering land agreements, Alachua Conservation Trust Executive Director Tom Kay said.
While some landowners have concerns over government regulation and property rights, Kay said, the agreements are flexible and able to be negotiated.
“If there’s certain things you want to see in an easement, you can certainly keep it in,” he said. “They’re pretty unique structures, but they’ve also been around a pretty long time.”
One of the greatest challenges with land easements is competition from developers, especially as Florida’s population and development rate continues to grow. Land prices have exploded, making it difficult to compete with developers who can pay well above a property’s appraised value, Kay said.
However, many landowners have a personal or familial connection to their property. The idea of their multi-generational farm being turned into a subdivision is often heartbreaking for landowners, Kay said, which inspires them to turn to conservation easements.
Much of the trust’s work depends on landowners having the conviction to conserve their property, the organization’s agricultural conservation specialist Justice Diamond said. While the final decision lies with the landowner, the trust is there to help them through the process, he added.
“Having that kind of goal and vision for your land is a really good driving factor for successful projects,” Diamond said. “It means they’re not totally in it for the money, they’re in it because they really want to see the land protected.”
For some land purchase agreements, the trust works alongside Alachua County Forever, a program in Alachua County’s Environmental Protection Department. The county’s land purchasing is funded through Wild Spaces & Public Places, an initiative that was re-approved by Alachua County voters in 2022.
Through the Wild Spaces & Public Places program, a half-penny surtax is collected on purchases in the county. This surtax will provide Alachua County Forever $151 million over the next 10 years to be used for land conservation.
Alachua County Forever has the goal of permanently protecting 30% of land in the county from development by 2030, Land Conservation Manager Andi Christman said. So far, 23% of land in Alachua County meets that standard, Christman said.
While the county is on track to meet its goal, she said, it will take consistent effort from citizens and leaders to actually achieve it. She’s hopeful the program will be able to make a difference in the environment, but Christman said she still has reservations that development will permanently damage Florida’s ecosystems.
“There’s still this very strong will amongst many of the citizens of Florida to still protect this wonderful place,” she said. “But I think we’re also all concerned and aware of the urgency.”
When deciding what land to conserve, certain qualities make a property high-priority, Christman said. Areas with lots of wildlife and connectivity to the Florida Wildlife Corridor, a statewide network of conserved land, are some characteristics high up on Alachua County Forever’s list, she added.
Protecting water resources is also a priority for Alachua County Forever, as many of Florida’s natural water bodies are impaired. Developing land near these water bodies can often lead to heavy pollution, Our Santa Fe River President Joanne Tremblay said.
The Santa Fe River has suffered a reduction in flow from overpumping, as well as pollution from agriculture and housing developments, Tremblay said. As development in Florida continues to grow, Tremblay hopes land around the Santa Fe River and natural springs will be protected.
“Our springs are beloved among so many,” Tremblay said. “We don’t want to see them further impaired.”
John Shermyen and Anne Shermyen’s farm is a part of the Santa Fe River Basin and also serves as a buffer to the San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park. After spending decades in Florida, the couple has seen the effects of development in the state.
Protecting water resources and native wildlife is especially urgent, Anne Shermyen said, and is part of the reason the Shermyens decided to enter their own property into a conservation easement.
“The only way to really be successful in protecting Florida’s natural lands is through direct purchase,” Anne Shermyen said.
On March 23, the Shermyens will be honored at the Annual Conservation Stewards Awards for their support of the organization. While they’re excited for the recognition, the Shermyens hope the event will also inspire others to participate in land conservation.
“It’s lovely to be honored,” Anne Shermyen said. “But we’ve just been doing this because it’s important to us.”
Contact Kylie Williams at kyliewilliams@alligator.org. Follow her on X @KylieWilliams99.
Kylie Williams is the Fall 2024 Enterprise Editor and a junior journalism major. Previously, she worked for the enterprise desk as the environment reporter. In her free time, she can be found reading, baking or watching reality TV with her cat.
