Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet have approved $167.25 million to protect over 20,000 acres of conservation land across the state. The decision, made in Tallahassee, covers properties that are considered important for wildlife habitats, water quality protection, and public recreation.
Six of the newly protected properties are located within the Florida Wildlife Corridor. Another acquisition will expand Cary State Forest in Duval County.
In addition to land conservation efforts, the Governor and Cabinet authorized the conveyance of a 2.63-acre parcel in Miami-Dade County next to Freedom Tower 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 Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Alexis A. Lambert. “By conserving these lands, we are preserving clean water, safeguarding wildlife and ensuring future generations can experience the Florida we know and love.”
The approved acquisitions include:
– Two conservation easements and one purchase totaling 13,375 acres in Collier and Hendry counties within the Caloosahatchee Big Cypress Corridor. These lands connect existing preserves such as the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge and provide habitat for endangered species like the Florida panther while supporting agriculture.
– A 3,094-acre conservation easement in Putnam County along Little Orange Creek protects rare species habitat within a key wildlife corridor linking Ocala National Forest to Osceola National Forest.
– A 1,670-acre conservation easement at Bar-B Ranch in Martin County is adjacent to water treatment areas linked to Everglades restoration projects. This ranch supports water storage improvements benefiting local estuaries.
– A 1,400-acre conservation easement at Big Bend Swamp/Holopaw Ranch in Osceola County maintains wildlife crossings under major highways and contributes to aquifer recharge.
– A 543-acre tract previously slated for development will now be managed by the Florida Forest Service as part of Cary State Forest in Duval County.
– Four acres were acquired in Okaloosa County to expand Norriego Point Beach Access and Park in Destin.
Additionally, permanent agricultural land conservation easements were approved on more than 10,000 acres through a program administered by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Further details about these approvals are available from official sources.
