TALLAHASSEE, FL – On September 29, the Florida Governor and Cabinet approved funding for the permanent conservation of 8,838 acres across seven properties within the Florida Wildlife Corridor. The newly approved conservation lands are located across Hardee, Hendry, Lake, Martin, and Putnam counties, advancing the state’s commitment to connecting and safeguarding Florida’s natural landscapes for future generations.

“We are grateful to Governor DeSantis and the Cabinet for their continued leadership in protecting the natural and working lands that make Florida special. Conservation easements funded through Florida Forever and the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program are making a real difference in keeping the Corridor connected and protected. With these latest approvals, the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program has now conserved over 250,000 acres across the state, a remarkable milestone that shows what is possible when Florida invests in conservation and the people who steward our land,” said Mallory Dimmitt, CEO of the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation. 

Crow’s Nest Farm and CA & KC Properties are to be protected through conservation easements funded by the Florida Forever Program from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Limestone Creek Ranch, Fair Bluff Ranch, Turnpike Dairy, Leonard Property, Encore Farms are to be protected through conservation easements funded through the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program at the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Thank you to the leadership of the landowners, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Florida Department of Environmental Services, Florida Conservation Group, Dispersed Water, Keith Fountain Law, Saunders Real Estate, Hartman Real Estate, and additional partners who played essential roles in making these opportunities possible.

The Florida Wildlife Corridor is a critical ecological network of 18 million acres that connects existing conservation lands to private working lands, providing a pathway for wildlife to roam and thrive. Nearly 10 million acres are already under permanent protection and by expanding the protected areas within the Corridor, the state is taking a proactive approach to ensuring the long-term sustainability of its natural resources.

The seven properties approved for conservation within the Florida Wildlife Corridor include:    

• A conservation easement in Hendry County of 3,567 acres within the Panther Glades Florida Forever Project. Crow’s Nest Farm fills a conservation gap between Dinner Island Ranch Wildlife Management Area and Finca Vigia, contributing to a mosaic of conservation lands in the area. Protection of these critical habitats and agricultural lands provides foraging areas and dispersal routes for a wide range of imperiled species; most notably the Florida panther, but also a wide range of native birds including roseate spoonbills, Florida sandhill cranes, wood storks, and crested caracara. The property is also within the Primary Zone of habitat for the federally endangered Florida panther. 

• A conservation easement in Putnam County of 2,708 acres in the Etoniah/Cross Florida Greenway Florida Forever project. CA & KC Properties is a predominantly wooded tract located within the Ocala-to-Osceola Wildlife Corridor. Acquisition of the property will create a connection between existing conservation land, including the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway State Recreation and Conservation area, Rodman Plantation Rural Lands Protection Easement, and Alford/Clapp Conservation Easement. Protection of the property would conserve surface water resources and aquifer recharge areas as the property lies between the St. Johns River and Lake Ocklawaha. Protection of the property’s native landscape including basin swamps, sandhill, and scrubby flatwoods will preserve essential habitat for many imperiled species such as Florida black bear, gopher tortoise, sandhill crane, and swallow-tailed kite. 

• A conservation easement in Hardee County of 1,034 acres, a project of FDACS Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. Limestone Creek Ranch, in Hardee County, is a working cattle ranch with 300 head of cattle. Limestone Creek bisects the property and drains east to the Peace River. The ranch includes a mosaic of uplands and wetlands and is part of a larger landscape of diverse habitat. The site is enrolled in the FDACS Best Management Practices (BMP) program. 

• A conservation easement in Martin County of 618 acres, a project of FDACS Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. Fair Bluff Ranch is part of the Taylor Creek/Nubbin Slough Basin within the greater Northern Everglades Lake Okeechobee watershed. The property also shares more than 1 mile of common boundary with the Walpole Ranch Rural Lands Protection Easement. The property is a working cattle ranch and the easement will protect the property’s agriculture landscape and preserve important water resources. The site is enrolled in the FDACS Best Management Practices (BMP) program. 

• A conservation easement in Martin County of 498 acres, a project of FDACS Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. Turnpike Dairy is a working cattle ranch that has been family owned and managed for multiple generations. Protection of this property helps maintain agricultural use of the land while preserving wildlife habitat and groundwater recharge. The property is adjacent to South Florida Water Management District conservation lands and is located near existing conservation easements. The site is enrolled in the FDACS Best Management Practices (BMP) program. 

• A conservation easement in Martin County of 219 acres, a project of FDACS Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. The Leonard Property is a working cattle ranch in a rapidly developing part of eastern Martin County. The property consists of improved pastures, pine flatwoods, freshwater marshes, and cypress systems. The property is located within the Loxa-Lucie Headwaters Initiative. The site is enrolled in the FDACS Best Management Practices (BMP) program. 

• A conservation easement in Lake County of 194 acres, a project of FDACS Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. Encore Farms is a horse and cattle farm located adjacent to Seminole State Forest and Seminole Swamp in a rapidly developing part of Lake County. The land is home to multiple species including Florida black bears, fox squirrels, and sandhill cranes. The site is enrolled in the FDACS Best Management Practices (BMP) program. 

To help understand the importance of these land parcels and visualize the land, Wildpath has developed a media kit with photos, video footage, and maps representing the newly approved properties. Please feel free to download and use these materials linked here. 

About the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation 

The Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation champions a collaborative campaign to permanently connect, protect and restore the Florida Wildlife Corridor – a statewide network of connected lands and waters that supports wildlife and people. As the champion and the guidepost for the Corridor movement, they unite leaders and changemakers to elevate the Corridor and accelerate protection for its most urgent, vulnerable, and irreplaceable connections. To learn more, visit floridawildlifecorridor.org or connect on social media @floridawildlifecorridor

About Wildpath 

Wildpath’s mission is to inspire the appreciation and protection of wild places. They seek to tell powerful stories that raise awareness of conservation issues that inspire policy makers, businesses, communities, and citizens to take action. The team specializes in impact campaigns, photography, video, and advanced remote imaging. Learn more about ongoing Corridor protections by visiting: wildpath.com/progress.