Joining the passion of individuals, with the resources of the entrepreneur and the power of government, all guided by science
Nokuse is a 55,000 acre private nature preserve located in Walton County in northwest Florida. It is the largest private conservation project east of the Mississippi River. Northwest Florida has long been recognized for its environmental wealth. It is an ecological “hot-spot”, a geographic area that hosts an unusually high concentration of plants, animals, and natural communities. However, much of the natural ecosystems of northwest Florida have been destroyed by agriculture, silviculture, and urban and residential development and many species that were once common are now rare, threatened or endangered. Habitat loss is the greatest threat to wildlife and habitat protection is the greatest hope for the future. Nokuse was established by M.C. Davis in 2000 to preserve, protect, and restore a critical part of Florida’s unique natural landscape. Inspired by the core reserve and corridor hypothesis, M.C. Davis sought parcels of land that became Nokuse because of their proximity to over one million protected lands in the area. Nokuse is a vital link between large conservation lands to the west, including Eglin Air Force Base Reserve and Blackwater River State Forest in Florida, and the Conecuh National Forest in Alabama, and the Choctawhatchee River Wildlife Management Area to the east. It is also part of the planned Northwest Florida Greenway which would link State, Federal, and private conservation lands across southern Alabama and the Florida Panhandle from the Eglin/Blackwater/Conecuh system all the way to the Apalachicola National Forest and St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge. At the heart of the initiative is the understanding that the combined resources and passion of entrepreneurs, government, scientists, and individuals are necessary to accomplish the scale of restoration and land conservation needed to reestablish the area’s natural ecosystems and historic biodiversity.
Goals
Our mission is to restore and preserve viable ecosystems at Nokuse that support native plants and animals, from common species to rare, endemic species. We strive to engage the private sector in the implementation of these large-scale restoration and conservation activities. With our success, we will become both a model and a catalyst for future landscape-level conservation projects.
Nokuse (pronounced “no-go-see”) is the Creek Native American word for black bear. The black bear is an “umbrella species”. Habitats that support an umbrella species like black bears in turn support other plants and animals. Because of its size, Nokuse can restore and maintain a sustainable habitat for the full spectrum of native species from small plants and tiny amphibians to large, wide-ranging animals, such as the Florida black bear and red wolf. Ultimately, our goal is to replenish and restore Northwest Florida’s biological wealth.
What we Do
Nokuse is permitted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) as a long-term protected site for gopher tortoises that need to be relocated from development sites throughout the State of Florida. Nokuse has an FWC-permitted authorized gopher tortoise agent on staff and Nokuse provides a full complement of gopher tortoise consulting services for development sites including burrow surveys, permitting, and relocation of gopher tortoises.
Nokuse provides the public with outdoor nature recreation opportunities with 20 miles of hiking on the Florida National Scenic Trail through the preserve. The hiking trail is well-maintained and passes through Nokuse from State Rd 20 at the Choctawhatchee River to US Highway 331. The trail provides an exceptional experience of the diverse natural wetland and upland ecosystems found in northwest Florida. Nokuse has also provided guided nature hikes on the Trail for small groups.
Nokuse hosts workshops, symposiums, and field trips that instruct adults, students, nonprofits, and government agencies about wildlife conservation, ecosystem restoration, longleaf pine reforestation, and techniques of rare and listed species recovery and management. Nokuse will provide native plant and animal exhibitions for school groups, scout groups, and environmental symposiums and meetings. Nokuse also provides information and educational programs about important topics such as black bear and gopher tortoise conservation to local homeowner’s associations.
