Florida Secures Over 86,000 Acres for Conservation and Agriculture
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – In a significant move to protect the state’s natural landscapes and agricultural heritage, Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet have approved substantial funding for land conservation. A total of $111 million from the Florida Forever Program will be used to acquire 24,113 acres of essential lands. These acquisitions are designed to create connections among conservation areas, with five of the seven key acquisitions situated within the Florida Wildlife Corridor. In addition, $206 million has been allocated to preserve over 62,000 acres of agricultural lands through the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program administered by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Alexis A. Lambert expressed gratitude for these measures, stating, “The natural beauty of Florida enriches the lives of all who call it home, and I thank Governor DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet for their leadership in protecting our state’s environment for future generations.”
Details of the Land Acquisitions:
A vast 12,243-acre addition to the Bear Creek Forest Florida Forever Project in Bay County will result in a new state forest. This tract will extend a corridor of public lands from Eglin Air Force Base to Apalachicola National Forest, benefiting water quality and quantity in the central Panhandle. The property is part of the Florida Wildlife Corridor and the Northwest Florida Sentinel Landscape.
In Santa Rosa County, a 5,910-acre conservation easement within the Coastal Headwaters Longleaf Forest Florida Forever Project will protect working forests and the Escambia River watershed. This area is crucial for filtering surface waters and providing a buffer to the Escambia River. It is located within both the Florida Wildlife Corridor and the Northwest Florida Sentinel Landscape.
A 2,483-acre property in Walton County, part of the Upper Shoal River Florida Forever Project, will become a new state park. This land forms a vital landscape corridor linking conservation areas and supports aquifer recharge, protecting waterbodies and wetlands in the western Panhandle. It is also within the Northwest Florida Sentinel Landscape.
In the Volusia County, a 1,335-acre acquisition within the Volusia Conservation Corridor Florida Forever Project will enhance a conservation corridor from Deep Creek Preserve to Fort Drum Marsh. This tract will protect diverse species and natural communities within the St. Johns River watershed.
Duval County will see a 1,265-acre expansion of the Northeast Florida Timberlands and Watershed Reserve Florida Forever Project, which will augment Cary State Forest. This acquisition connects Camp Blanding to the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve, improving water quality in the Lower St. Johns River Basin.
A 764-acre conservation easement within the Green Swamp Florida Forever Project in Polk County will bolster connections between conservation lands and help recharge the Florida Aquifer near a new wildlife crossing on Interstate 4.
Also in Polk County, a 113-acre expansion of the Catfish Creek Florida Forever Project will extend the Allen David Broussard Catfish Creek Preserve State Park, adding vital recreational facilities and educational opportunities.
For more details on the land acquisition approvals, click here.
Read More Here
