Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet have approved the protection of 20,086 acres of conservation lands in Florida, allocating $167.25 million to these efforts. The decision was made during a meeting held in Tallahassee.
Six of the properties involved are located within the Florida Wildlife Corridor, while another acquisition will expand Cary State Forest in Duval County. Additionally, a 2.63-acre parcel adjacent to the Freedom Tower in Miami-Dade County was approved for conveyance for use as the Donald J. Trump Presidential Library.
“Yesterday’s approvals protect more than 20,000 acres of Florida’s most important landscapes,” said Alexis A. Lambert, Secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. “By conserving these lands, we are preserving clean water, safeguarding wildlife and ensuring future generations can experience the Florida we know and love.”
Among the land acquisitions approved:
– Two conservation easements and one acquisition totaling 13,375 acres within the Caloosahatchee Big Cypress Corridor in Collier and Hendry counties will help connect key wildlife areas such as the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge and Big Cypress National Preserve with Dinner Island Wildlife Management Area. These lands support habitat for imperiled species like the Florida panther while maintaining agricultural operations.
– A 3,094-acre conservation easement within Putnam County’s Little Orange Creek Corridor project is intended to strengthen connections within the Ocala-to-Osceola Wildlife Corridor and protect habitats for rare species. Restoration efforts by landowners focus on forest recovery and wetland protection to help maintain water quality in Little Orange Creek.
– In Martin County, a 1,670-acre conservation easement at Bar-B Ranch is situated near water treatment infrastructure important for Everglades restoration. This cattle ranch supports shallow water storage and regional water quality improvements benefiting nearby estuaries and ecosystems.
– Osceola County will see a 1,400-acre conservation easement at Big Bend Swamp/Holopaw Ranch linking Bull Creek with Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area. The property maintains a wildlife crossing under the Florida Turnpike and contributes to aquifer recharge.
– A 543-acre parcel in Duval County that had been slated for residential development will now be added to Cary State Forest under management by the Florida Forest Service, supporting habitat protection and outdoor recreation opportunities.
– In Okaloosa County, a four-acre addition will expand Destin’s Norriego Point Beach Access and Park to improve public access to beachfront areas as well as boating and fishing amenities.
The Governor and Cabinet also approved acquiring permanent agricultural land conservation easements covering more than 10,000 acres through the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program managed by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
More details about these approvals are available on official state resources.
