Land Management

Please contact Resource Stewardship Division at 386-943-7081 with any questions.

IMPORTANT

CAMPFIRES ARE PROHIBITED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

BURN BAN IN EFFECT

Volusia County has issued an outdoor burn ban is currently in effect due to unusually high drought indicators. The ban, which will take effect at 12:01 a.m. Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, applies to the county’s unincorporated areas, Oak Hill, Lake Helen, and Pierson. Other incorporated municipalities may issue burn bans separately.

Under the burn ban, all outdoor burning, unless authorized by the Florida Forest Service, is prohibited. This includes burning yard trash, household paper products, bonfires, campfires, warming fires, and cooking fires. Outdoor cooking using a contained gas or charcoal grill (excluding a fire pit) is permitted under the ban

Volusia County currently offers 8 campsites across 6 different preserves. These sites offer the opportunity to enjoy the natural beauty of Florida while staying directly in it. During your stay make sure to take time to appreciate the sounds of nature, the fresh air, the scenic views and the wildlife that call these preserves home. While camping here, you will get to experience Florida in a way that you will not forget.

• View Conservation Lands

• For camping reservations please call (386) 943-7081 or visit the camping reservations page 

Mission statement: To manage, in perpetuity, the county's conservation, environmentally sensitive and important water resource lands using a program of professionally accepted principles of resource and ecosystem management for the benefit of, and enjoyment by, present and future generations.

The Land Management activity is responsible for the management, enhancement and restoration of more than 38,000 acres located in Volusia County.  The majority of the acreage was acquired through two Volusia County voter approved acquisition programs, the 1986 Endangered Lands program and the 2000 Volusia Forever program.  With the passage of the Volusia Forever referendum in November of 2020, Volusia County will be adding to these protected Conservation Lands.  These lands have been and will be acquired for conservation purposes, while allowing passive recreation by the residents of Volusia County and others wishing to visit them.  Compatible passive recreation includes hiking, biking, bird watching and wildlife observation.  In addition, primitive and group camping is allowed on the following properties:

Hickory Bluff Preserve, Wiregrass Prairie Preserve, Longleaf Pine Preserve, Doris Leeper Spruce Creek Preserve, and Lake George Forest & Wildlife Management Area. 

A camping permit must be obtained by calling the Resource Stewardship main office at (386) 943-7081.

Special Use Authorization Permits for activities not listed on our standard passive recreation list, must have the approval of the Land Management Activity.

Historically, nature provided all the tools needed to maintain healthy habitats. With the advent of fire suppression, fragmentation due to development (roads, powerlines, cities, etc.), past forestry practices, exotic species and user impacts natural lands are rarely as resilient as they were in the past. Most of the remaining habitats are overgrown with a complete canopy of trees and a dense understory of shrubs.  An abundance of trees and shrubs have replaced natural grasses and herbs as the major component of the understory. Loss of habitat quality and quantity has dramatically affected the naturally occurring animal species. Human intervention (management) is now needed to provide the factors necessary for a healthy forest. Learn more about the living forest and how the County controls forest fires.

Visit the Conservation Lands Map to see all protected forest land in Volusia County.

The County Council approved a formal set of land management and conservation goals and objectives which can be found in Resolution 2003-80. This resolution provides staff guidance on management, restoration and public use. In addition the County Council in 2006 approved Chapter 82, Article III, Volusia County Code of Ordinances which details allowances, prohibitions and permitting for the public use of Conservation Lands.