Environs
Protected Land
FSU is near many large areas of publicly and privately conserved lands which are excellent resources for research and recreation. Some of the major reserves include the following:
St Marks Wildlife Refuge -- 68,000 acres along the Gulf coast, including forest, marshes, islands, tidal creeks, and estuaries.
Apalachicola National Forest -- 570,000 acres of which about half is managed for pine sawtimber; includes savannas, lakes, rivers, swamps, and creeks.
Apalachicola National Estuarine Reserve -- includes the lower 52 miles of the Apalachicola River and floodplain, as well as most of Apalachicola Bay, and encompasses upland, barrier-island, marsh, and open-water habitats.
Apalachicola Bluffs and Ravines Preserve -- Nature Conservancy property with 6,300 acres of steephead ravines and bluffs along the Apalachicola River, with a major restoration program for the longleaf pine community.
Various Florida state parks, including Torreya State Park, Florida Caverns State Park, Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park, Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park, ST. Andrews State Park, and Maclay Gardens State Park.