Ed
Freeman, Director
of Land Protection
Ed has been integral in the development
and implementation of several highly successful Environmentally
Sensitive Lands Protection Programs. Ed has been the key
negotiator on all land acquisition negotiations.
Ed has been involved in environmentally sensitive land acquisitions
and management since 1990. Ed wrote the governing ordinances
for the Environmentally Sensitive Lands Programs in both
Sarasota and Charlotte Counties, spearheaded the three successful
referenda campaigns in the two Counties and was the acquisition
agent for both Counties. He succeeded in helping to
convince the voters to increase their property taxes to fund
the two programs at a level of $303 million in Sarasota County
and $77 million in Charlotte County. Ed has successfully
negotiated or contributed to negotiating over 100
acquisition deals that have totaled approximately 17,000
acres in Sarasota County alone. Mr. Freeman’s acquisition
leadership in Sarasota County has resulted in the highest
percentage of land acquired for conservation by any county
in Florida.
He also has played
an integral role in establishing and/or implementing acquisition
programs in Hernando, Pasco and Collier Counties. He has
provided ecological and logistical support for the development
of the Gulf Coast Conservation Corridor that extends from
the Everglades to Apalachicola. He
negotiated contracts for the protection of over 40,000 acres
as a contracted acquisition agent for the FDEP under the Florida
Forever program. With these professional experiences,
Ed has developed an in-depth knowledge of Florida’s
natural areas and environmental issues as well as a working
understanding of governmental functions.
Additionally, Ed developed and implemented
the Sea Turtle Protection Program in Sarasota County and
wrote the Sea Turtle Protection Ordinance. He also wrote the Exotic Pest Plant Ordinance
for Sarasota County. He has significant experience in environmental
restoration and land management.
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