When and how was Conservation Collier established?

Conservation Collier was created in 2003, after a November 2002 voter referendum in which voters approved creating a taxpayer-funded conservation land acquisition program. To pay for the program, taxpayers agreed to a property tax increase of up to .25 mills for up to ten (10) years and bonding for up to $75 million. Between 2003 and 2013, the property tax was collected. Most recently, on November 3, 2020 the electorate voted to implement another ad valorem tax for 10 years. the implementation of this ad valorem started in Fiscal Year 2022 (October 2022).

History of Acquisition

The initial acquisition phase occurred from 2003 to 2011.  In 2011 available funds were appropriated in a maintenance trust fund as the program moved into a preserve management phase, including opening the preserves for public access and managing and hosting visitors.

The Program remained in a management phase until 2017 when the Board authorized the use of management funds for the acquisition of more land. In 2018 and 2019, three (3) projects totaling 237 acres were purchased.

Since the re-establishment of the funding source for acquisition after the 2020 Referendum, an additional 500 acres have been acquired for a total of 4,800 acres (as of October 2023).

How does Conservation Collier acquire property?

• Conservation Collier is a willing seller program.
•  Priorities for acquisition are based on the criteria in the Conservation Collier Implementation Ordinance, and include factors such as protection of Collier County’s surface and drinking water resources, protection of wildlife habitat, flood protection, and opportunities for outdoor recreation.

• For more information about acquisition, check out the Acquisition subpage.

Land Management – summary of work on the land

Conservation Collier preserve lands are managed to maintain and restore native habitats and provide public access to those native habitats if possible. Land management activities include: invasive, exotic plant control; prescribed fire; mowing; restoration plantings; fence maintenance; and trail maintenance.

Program Background   

During previous decades, rapid development of Collier County presented challenges in balancing and maintaining a high quality of life for its citizens. While much of eastern and southern Collier County (specifically, Big Cypress National Preserve, Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park, Florida Panther and 10,000 Island National Wildlife Refuges, and Everglades National Park) provided ecosystem protection, there remained a need to preserve rare habitats and public open space in the rapidly developing western portions of the county between Immokalee and the coastal areas in order to preserve those qualities that make Collier County the exceptional and distinctive place that it is today.

A series of community planning initiatives, begun in the late 1980s, culminated in 2001 with the Community Character and Design visioning process.  This process identified the need for a greenspace acquisition program.  The resulting initiative, “Vote Conservation 2002” placed a referendum question on the November 2002 ballot, asking voters whether they would be willing to tax themselves one quarter mill for 10 years to buy conservation lands and greenspace and to approve a $75 million limited tax general obligation bond. Nearly sixty percent of Collier County voters responded with a resounding YES! As a result, the Conservation Collier Ordinance (Ordinance No. 2002-63, as amended) was developed, with citizen input and County Commission approval, to make conservation and protection of environmental resources into a real plan for the future.  In 2003, the Conservation Collier Program was initiated.

In November 2006 Voters were again asked in a referendum - straw vote question whether they understood and approved that the Conservation Collier Program would be funded by a quarter mill ad valorem property tax for a period of ten (10) years, until 2013.  Eighty-two percent (82%) of voters approved!  Active acquisition proceeded through 2010.  At that point, reduced revenues resulting from economic conditions created uncertainty about future revenues.     The initial acquisition phase was closed in January 2011 and available funds were appropriated in a maintenance trust fund.  At that time, the program moved into a preserve management phase, including opening the preserves for public access and managing and hosting visitors.

The Program remained in a management phase until 2017 when the Board authorized the use of management funds for the acquisition of more land. In 2018 and 2019, three (3) projects totaling 237 acres were purchased for $3 million. 

After the November 2020 Referendum passed with a 76.5% vote, the funding source for acquisition was re-established. Accordingly, Acquisition Cycle 10 started in February 2021 at which time the Program opened up the application period for the Cycle. For information about all Acquisition cycles, check out the Acquisition subpage.

Check out a current map of Conservation Collier Preserves.

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