Agriculture &
the Environment
Privatelands.org operated as charitable 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, incorporated in Florida, first, in 1994, as Florida Stewardship Foundation, then in 2001 as Stewardship America.
Its mission was to work on initiatives that engender a thriving rural economy, an economically robust agriculture, a healthy natural environment, viable rural communities, safe supplies of food and fiber,
By 2005, the projects that it had carried out with Florida Panther license plate fees, foundation grants, and county government and farm organization engagements had been successfully completed and the organization was dissolved.
Its projects and the study reports that resulted include:
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Green Cay Wetlands (see additional photos)
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True Cost Accounting, and
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multiple Costs and Benefits of Growth Fiscal Impact Studies showing the economic and tax revenue benefits of farm and ranch land and open space
An update of the Privatelands.org website is underway describing the organization's and its collaborations with the American Hiking Society, American Farmland Trust. Florida country farm bureaus, private landowners, and county governments.