Lake Wales Ridge Conservation Bank
The Lake Wales Ridge Conservation Bank spans 363.5 acres in Polk County, Florida, representing one of the largest remaining areas of pristine scrub habitat along the Lake Wales Ridge. This ecologically significant site is home to sand skinks and blue-tailed mole skinks, along with various other threatened and endangered species.
The sand skink (Neoseps reynoldsi) is recognized as a Threatened species under the Federal Endangered Species Act and is also designated as a Federally Designated Threatened species by Florida’s Endangered and Threatened Species Rule. The primary threat to the sand skink is habitat destruction. Conservation Banks play a crucial role in recovery efforts by securing large-scale habitats essential for the long-term survival of these species.
The Lake Wales Ridge Conservation Bank offers sand skink credits as a conservation measure to offset and compensate for developmental impacts. Its service area includes the entire Lake Wales Ridge and surrounding counties: Highlands, Lake, Osceola, Orange, and Polk.
Restoration efforts at the bank involve several key actions:
- Eradication of nuisance and exotic species
- Tree thinning
- Reintroduction of a prescribed fire regime
- Establishment of a perpetual conservation easement to permanently prevent development
- Creation of a trust fund to ensure ongoing management of the site.
Lake Wales Ridge Basin is owned and managed by Southern States Land & Timber which was founded in 1877. The company has prospered throughout the years as a land acquisition and holding company with property interests in Louisiana, Texas & Florida.
