Gopher Tortoises in Florida: Plantation Oaks Controversy Raises Concerns

Developer gets OK to destroy hundreds of gopher tortoises

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) recently upgraded the gopher tortoise from a “species of special concern” to a threatened species. This new classification promises stronger protection in the future, including restrictions on entombment — the practice of burying tortoises alive during land development.

However, these new rules will not take effect for at least a year, leaving many tortoises vulnerable under the current system.

Plantation Oaks Development and Gopher Tortoise Habitat

In Ormond Beach, the Plantation Oaks housing and golf course project has sparked major environmental concerns. The St. Johns River Water Management District issued a permit for the 1,033-acre project, allowing the developer, Parker Mynchenberg, to impact the habitat of up to 923 gopher tortoises.

Although Mynchenberg argues that fewer than 400 tortoises are present, the permit still authorizes destruction or relocation. His firm paid $722,897 to offset this impact by purchasing 94 acres of tortoise habitat elsewhere.

The Debate Over Relocation and Entombment

Under current state rules, many tortoises cannot be moved offsite due to outdated respiratory disease testing regulations. This has led to reliance on incidental take permits, which allow entombment.

  • Developers’ perspective: Entombment is legal, widely used, and often cheaper than relocation.

  • Scientists’ and advocates’ perspective: Entombment is inhumane, contributes to rapid population decline, and undermines conservation efforts.

Experts like Ray Ashton, a leading tortoise biologist, call the Plantation Oaks permit “a great disaster,” noting that the species faces declines of up to 40% annually in some regions.

Environmentalists Sound the Alarm

Groups such as Save the Loop and Defenders of Wildlife warn that the one-year delay before new protections are enforced could trigger a surge in permit applications. Developers may rush to secure entombment permits before stricter rules take effect.

Rick Smith of Save the Loop said, “It seems outrageous that they’d elevate the species to threatened and then eliminate 1,000 of them.”

Conservation Funding and Future Challenges

While fees from incidental take permits have funded 22,000 acres of gopher tortoise habitat, experts say this is only a fraction of what has been lost. Without proper land management — such as controlled burns — much of this land is unsuitable for tortoises.

Advocates believe that banning entombment and reforming relocation practices are critical to reversing the gopher tortoise’s decline.

Key Takeaways

  • The gopher tortoise is now classified as threatened in Florida.

  • The Plantation Oaks project could displace or kill hundreds of tortoises.

  • Entombment permits remain legal until new rules take effect in 2026.

  • Conservationists call for immediate action to prevent further population loss.