HB 1215

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State
3	Park; creating s. 258.082, F.S.; requiring the Division of
4	Recreation and Parks to amend the Fort Zachary Taylor
5	Historic State Park Management Plan to require protection,
6	maintenance, and preservation of the canopy of old
7	Australian pine trees located on the grounds of the park
8	for specified purposes; providing for the number of trees
9	to be returned to those documented as existing in the
10	Australian Pine Mapping Project of 2004; providing for the
11	care and maintenance of such trees; providing for
12	institution of a policy of controlled growth; providing
13	that the act is not intended to authorize the sale or
14	distribution of such trees; providing an effective date.
15
16	WHEREAS, Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park,
17	designated by the United States Department of Interior as a
18	National Historic Landmark, has a towering canopy of old
19	Australian pines, and
20	WHEREAS, the canopy of old Australian pines at Fort Zachary
21	Taylor Historic State Park was the first growth on submerged
22	federal land that was dredged and filled a half century ago, and
23	WHEREAS, the canopy of old Australian pines are drought
24	tolerant, salt tolerant, low maintenance, energy efficient, and
25	provide a beautifully unique and historic vista, and
26	WHEREAS, these Australian pines have become a cherished
27	part of Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park's historical
28	landscape, and
29	WHEREAS, the canopy of old Australian pines provides much-
30	needed shade to park visitors, and
31	WHEREAS, the canopy of old Australian pines offers
32	measurable social and economic benefits, NOW, THEREFORE,
33
34	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
35
36	Section 1.  Section 258.082, Florida Statutes, is created
37	to read:
38	258.082  Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park.--
39	(1)  Notwithstanding ss. 369.251 and 369.252 and any other
40	law, in order to preserve the historic character of Fort Zachary
41	Taylor Historic State Park for future generations and to benefit
42	all visitors to the park, the division shall:
43	(a)  Amend the Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park
44	Management Plan to require protection, maintenance, and
45	preservation of the canopy of old Australian pine trees
46	(Casuarina equisetifolia) located on the grounds of the park
47	with the immediate objective of maintaining the old stand of
48	Australian pines that existed on January 1, 2008, and with the
49	long-term goal of restoring the number of Australian pines to
50	those documented as existing in the Australian Pine Mapping
51	Project of 2004;
52	(b)  Commence a program of care and maintenance of
53	Australian pine seedlings, young trees, and mature trees to
54	ensure that the goals of paragraph (a) are achieved; and
55	(c)  Initiate a professional maintenance program to nurture
56	and protect the old Australian pines canopy and institute a
57	policy of controlled growth for replacement of any pines lost.
58	(2)  This section does not authorize the sale or
59	distribution of Australian pines to and from public or private
60	parties.
61	Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2008.

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.