Florida Yards & Neighborhoods Program

Program Objectives

The objectives of the FY&N program are to:

• reduce stormwater runoff
• decrease non-point source pollution
• conserve water
• enhance wildlife habitat
• create beautiful landscapes

Florida's population growth has placed tremendous pressure on our precious natural resources. As our communities grow, much of the land that was once natural habitat is converted to residential and commercial areas. With each rain fall pollutants like pesticides, fertilizers, and petroleum products that are in our yards and neighborhoods wash into our waterways and threaten the health of Florida's water and ecosystems.

Florida Yards and Neighborhoods is a public education program which urges homeowners to realize that they can make a difference in preventing the further destruction of Florida's natural resources through environmentally friendly landscape practices. FY&N, developed by the University of Florid Extension Service and the National Estuary Program, encourages the use of Nine Principles including:

• Mulching
• Recycling yard waste
• Selecting the least toxic pest control
• Watering efficiently
• Right plant, right place
• Conservative fertilizing practices
• Wildlife habitat
• Reducing stormwater runoff
• Protecting the waterfront

 

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