Hunting, Grazing and Mitigation Banking
Hunting and grazing have long been used to supplement timber income on the Farmton tract. Miami Corporation still grants traditional grazing leases on smaller portions of the tract, but it is hunting that has traditionally been the main ancillary use of the property.

In the 1950’s, Miami Corporation executed a wildlife management area agreement with The Florida Game and Freshwater Fish Commission (now known as the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission) covering a majority of the tract. The Commission managed the area as a wildlife management area, with hunting open to the public, until 2000. Other smaller areas of the tract are and have been under private leases.

In 2001, due to concerns about the effects of impacts large numbers of hunters were having on wildlife and the natural features of the land, the company placed the wildlife management area under a private hunting lease. The smaller number of hunters has allowed a rebound in the wildlife population partially from hunter management an hunter-imposed restrictions on the taking of wildlife (that are over State rules). The private hunters are a beneficial presence on the land; among other activities, they volunteer for fire watching duty during fire season.

In 2000, Miami Corporation received a permit from St. Johns Water Management District and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers allowing a mitigation bank on portions of the tract for stewardship, management of timber, and wildlife management and to sell mitigation credits. At present, about 6,500 acres are under conservation easement and managed in accordance with the terms of the permit. This also allows Farmton to restore wetlands that are impacted. As part of the mitigation bank, these 6,500 acres of wetlands and uplands will never be developed. The sale of the credits supplements the timber income on a one-time basis, but once the credits are sold, Miami Corporation must follow through on its obligation to maintain in perpetuity the conservation lands as required in the state and federal permits.

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