The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has announced that the Florida Forever Program has reached its 200th conservation easement, now protecting more than 364,000 acres of land across the state. This development coincides with the program’s 25th anniversary.
Launched in 2000, the Florida Forever Program aims to conserve native landscapes, watersheds, agricultural and working lands, and wildlife habitats throughout Florida. Conservation easements are voluntary legal agreements with private landowners that permanently limit development while allowing continued ownership and sustainable use of the land. These agreements help preserve natural and cultural resources for future generations and require agricultural producers to implement best management practices that protect water quality and maintain productive farms and ranches.
“Conservation easements are one of the most important tools we have to protect Florida’s lands and waters,” said DEP Secretary Alexis A. Lambert. “From working farms and ranches to wildlife habitats and scenic landscapes, Florida Forever safeguards the resources that make our state special.”
Several notable conservation easements acquired through Florida Forever include:
– The Fisheating Creek Ecosystem in Glades and Highlands counties covers over 66,000 acres acquired between 2000 and 2025. Four easements protect this area, which is the only undammed tributary of Lake Okeechobee. It provides habitat for endangered species such as the Florida panther, gopher tortoise, and red-cockaded woodpecker.
– Nokuse Plantation in Walton County consists of 17,880 acres acquired in 2004. As part of both the Florida Wildlife Corridor and Northwest Florida Sentinel Landscape, it protects water quality in the Choctawhatchee River watershed and supports imperiled species like Cooley’s meadowrue. The property owner uses prescribed fire to restore ecosystems.
– Avalon Plantation in Jefferson County includes nearly 12,000 acres acquired in 2023 within the Red Hills Region. It preserves upland habitats vital for species such as the red-cockaded woodpecker.
– Deer Creek Ranch in DeSoto County spans almost 5,700 acres acquired in 2024. This working cattle ranch protects parts of the Peace River watershed while providing habitat for several at-risk bird species.
– Letchworth Mounds in Jefferson County comprises over 1,200 acres adjacent to a significant archaeological site.
With these efforts, DEP continues its partnerships with private landowners to ensure long-term protection of key landscapes and waterways throughout Florida.
More information about conservation easements under this program can be found at https://floridaforever.org/.
