A large wading bird stands at the edge of a pond surrounded by green grasses and aquatic plants in Wildlight Florida, with its reflection visible in the water.

A wood stork stands at the edge of a shallow pond surrounded by grass and plants in the Wildlight Yulee Florida community, its reflection visible in the water.

Sustainability

Let’s make this simple

The word “sustainability” gets tossed around a lot. And if you ask somebody what it means, you’re likely to hear either a fuzzy feel-good description or a highly technical, sleep-inducing explanation. At Wildlight, we see sustainability simply as a way of doing things that helps sustain our natural environment, our economy and the quality of our day-to-day lives (you know, the important stuff) all at the same time. Let’s explore a few examples.

A heron stands at the edge of a misty pond, with grass and trees in the foreground and new homes in Wildlight FL’s master planned community visible in the background.

Green lily pads float on calm blue water in the Wildlight Yulee Florida community, with a few sticks and reflections of reeds visible on the surface.

What’re we doing about water?

Even in Florida, which gets the fifth highest annual rainfall of any state in the country, water conservation is key to maintaining a healthy ecosystem. So here’s some of what we’re doing …

Tall grass with pink-purple plumes grows in a landscaped area near a road, with trees and green grass in the background—capturing the natural beauty surrounding new homes in Wildlight FL.

Reducing the need for irrigation through native/drought-tolerant plantings and limiting turf

Sprinklers watering green plants in a garden or field, with sunlight shining through the water droplets—an inviting scene often found in the Wildlight master planned community or around new homes in Wildlight, FL.

Carefully monitoring and managing irrigation to match seasonal needs

Circular image showing sunlight reflecting on calm water, with leafy plants in the foreground partially out of focus—a tranquil glimpse into the natural beauty of Wildlight master planned community.

Taking advantage of reclaimed water and on-site pond storage for irrigation

A garden bed in the Wildlight master planned community features clusters of red and yellow daisies, white flowers, green grass-like plants, and purple foliage.

Helping residents participate through education and a landscape
pattern book

Keeping nature in the neighborhood

In Wildlight, we don’t put nature behind a fence. We’ve dedicated over 11,000 acres to a conservation and habitat network we call the Wildlight Greenways. Not only will it serve to help maintain the health and diversity of native species, it will make real Florida nature a part of everyday life. This is what puts the wild in Wildlight.

A turtle covered in green algae sits on a log above water with more algae floating on the surface, capturing the natural beauty found near homes in Nassau County, Florida, including the serene Wildlight Yulee Florida community.

Connected green spaces and corridors allow wildlife to move more freely throughout the community.

A butterfly with orange and black wings is perched on a yellow flower in a sunlit garden, surrounded by green foliage in the vibrant Wildlight Yulee Florida community.

In our plantings, we emphasize the use of native species that support local pollinators and native wildlife. We’re even creating pollinator gardens.

A grey heron stands in shallow water surrounded by small green plants, with reflections visible on the dark water surface—a tranquil scene reminiscent of the natural beauty found in the Wildlight Yulee Florida community.

Bio blitz! Wildlife biologists at University of Florida have organized local volunteers to find and document the animal and plant species native to Wildlight.

A large flock of birds flies across a cloudy sky at dusk above the Wildlight Yulee Florida community, with silhouettes of trees visible at the bottom of the image.

We’re adding bird and bat houses to common areas. Want a fun nature experience to share with the kids? In the evening, come to a park that has a bat house and watch those little black aerial acrobats (pun intended) zoom around catching bugs.

A deer with glowing eyes walks through a forest at night in the Wildlight Yulee Florida community, captured by a trail camera with ferns and trees in the background.

To educate residents and visitors about Wildlight’s flora and fauna, we’re adding interpretive signage and installing wildlife cameras.

Cooler, stronger, safer by design

Florida is one of prettiest places in the world. But the weather gets pretty hot and the storms get pretty powerful. Which is why we’ve made climate resiliency a fundamental part of the plan for Wildlight. Pretty smart, right?

Minimizing Flood Risk

So often, nature-based solutions are the best. For example, the Wildlight Greenways, with their extensive conserved wetlands and uplands, will help manage stormwater, create a buffer around homes and maintain water quality. They will also mitigate the risk of wildfire. And with roads elevated above the flood plain, we maintain mobility even when things get a little soggy.

Three children lie on a wooden dock in Wildlight Florida, facing a pond with lily pads and lush greenery, holding hands as they gaze at the water—capturing the simple joys found near new homes in Wildlight FL.

Heat Mitigation

This is a huge need in Florida. By planting more trees and preserving existing mature trees, we’re able to increase shade and evapotranspiration (which is a fancy word that refers to the process that plants use to absorb water in the soil then release it through their leaves, cooling the surrounding air).

A forest of tall trees is reflected in a calm, misty lake with tall green grass in the foreground—capturing the tranquil beauty found near homes in Nassau County, Florida.

Shrinking Our Footprint

Reducing our carbon footprint is an essential part of addressing climate change on a global scale. Which is why we’re working on green transportation initiatives such as building out our Wildlight Trailways network to encourage walking and biking instead of driving, and installing EV charging stations throughout Wildlight.

A man and a woman walk side by side on a paved path in a wooded area within the Wildlight Yulee Florida community, with the woman holding a blue bicycle.

Resident Education

Everything works better when everybody works together. That’s why resident education is a key facet of our sustainability efforts. We supply residents with helpful information on topics such as water conservation, energy efficiency and storm safety through workshops and other channels.

Sprinklers water a grassy area beside a wet concrete walkway in the Wildlight master planned community, with sunlight reflecting off the spray and a tree trunk visible on the left.

It’s In our Nature

Growing a healthy community is a lot like growing a healthy forest. And as part of a century-old timber company, we’ve been growing healthy forests for a long time. Sustainability. It’s just what we do.

Healthy people, healthy community

The thing you have to remember about sustainability is that it’s not just about the climate and the planet and the wild animals. At its core, it’s about sustaining us humans. In Wildlight, that includes innovative programs and features that support health and wellness for people as well as the social and economic life of the community.

Two people walk side by side on a paved path through a grassy area, surrounded by tall trees in the background—capturing the tranquil lifestyle of the Wildlight Yulee Florida community.

Good Habits

As a fundamental community planning principle, Wildlight focuses on prevention and healthy living habits as a way to reduce the need for acute care. Take our Wildlight Trailways, for example. This expanding network of trails inspires walking, biking, jogging and fresh-air-breathing.

A toddler in a yellow romper walks on grass while an older child sits in the background at an outdoor event with tents and trees in the Wildlight Yulee Florida community.

WELLNESS & TOGETHERNESS

With a UF Health medical center and a YMCA integrated into the community, residents have ready access to healthcare and wellness programs. And with parks, gathering places and community programs, Wildlight also supports a healthy social life.

Four people interact on wooden stadium-style seating indoors at the Wildlight Yulee Florida community, with two using laptops, one holding a coffee cup, and one standing on the steps—suggesting an informal meeting or conversation.

HEALTHY BUSINESS

And what about financial fitness? Dozens of companies, including two corporate headquarters, have brought more than 500 jobs to Wildlight so far.
And we’re just getting started.

Supporting sustainability through raising awareness

We humans love a good cause. Just show us where and how we can help, and we’re all over it. That’s why we’re using the simple idea of engaging the public in our sustainability efforts by placing educational signs throughout the community. Here are some of the topics you’re likely to see in the months ahead:

White icon of a tulip with an electrical plug, a lightning bolt above, and a circular arrow around, symbolizing renewable energy in Wildlight Florida’s master planned community.

Sustainable
Practices

Water conservation, renewable energy,
green-building design

White line drawing of a plant with six leaves in a circle, all enclosed within a thin circular border on a light background—reflecting the natural beauty found in the Wildlight master planned community.

Local
ecosystems

Identifying the location and importance of wetlands, forests and wildlife habitats

Text reads: "AND ALL OUR OTHER HELPERS" in bold, uppercase, dark green letters on a light background—celebrating the spirit of community found in new homes in Wildlight FL.

Responsible
recreation

Trail etiquette, “leave
no trace” practices, wildlife viewing guidelines

Outdoor
Classrooms

Trailside educational signage that teach nature, history, and sustainability for local schools and community groups

Wildlight
History

Telling the stories of the people and events that have shaped our region, creating a shared sense of community

Local Art
and culture

Artwork and cultural elements that
celebrate the
community’s unique character

A sustainable partnership

It takes a real group effort to make a real difference. We’re grateful for the many helping hands who have joined us in the effort to turn Wildlight into a model of sustainable community-building.

Our Heartfelt Thanks To …

for helping to develop innovative programs and services that better the health and wellness of the community.

and its Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ program for teaching residents about yard maintenance, landscaping, water conservation and other topics.

for contributing to our residential landscape pattern book.

for leading a group of citizen scientists to find and identify native animals and plants.

for exploring innovative landscaping practices to enhance water conservation, land preservation
and biodiversity.

including researchers, public officials, state regulatory agencies, plant growers
and more.