Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet have approved $167.25 million to protect more than 20,000 acres of conservation land across Florida. The decision, made yesterday, covers seven properties, six of which are located within the Florida Wildlife Corridor. One property will expand Cary State Forest in Duval County.
In addition to these conservation measures, the Cabinet also approved the transfer of a 2.63-acre parcel in Miami-Dade County next to the Freedom Tower for use as the Donald J. Trump Presidential Library.
Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Alexis A. Lambert commented on the approvals: “Yesterday’s approvals protect more than 20,000 acres of Florida’s most important landscapes. By conserving these lands, we are preserving clean water, safeguarding wildlife and ensuring future generations can experience the Florida we know and love.”
The newly protected lands include two conservation easements and one acquisition totaling 13,375 acres in Collier and Hendry counties within the Caloosahatchee Big Cypress Corridor. These areas will improve connectivity between existing preserves such as the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge and provide habitat for threatened species while supporting ongoing agricultural activities.
A separate 3,094-acre conservation easement in Putnam County is part of efforts to connect habitats within the Ocala-to-Osceola Wildlife Corridor. Restoration work is underway there to improve forest conditions and protect wetlands that help maintain water quality in Little Orange Creek.
Another project involves a 1,670-acre conservation easement at Bar-B Ranch in Martin County near a stormwater treatment area associated with Everglades restoration efforts. This ranch supports water storage initiatives that benefit regional ecosystems including the St. Lucie Estuary and Indian River Lagoon.
In Osceola County, a 1,400-acre easement at Big Bend Swamp/Holopaw Ranch will link other protected lands and help wildlife cross under major roadways like the Florida Turnpike safely while contributing to aquifer recharge for downstream systems such as Lake Okeechobee and the Everglades.
Duval County will see an additional 543 acres added to Cary State Forest through land previously set aside for residential development; this parcel will be managed by the Florida Forest Service for public recreation while providing habitat protection for species like gopher tortoises.
Okaloosa County received approval for a four-acre addition to Norriego Point Beach Access and Park in Destin, improving public access to waterfront amenities including boating and fishing opportunities.
The Cabinet also authorized permanent agricultural land conservation easements over more than 10,000 acres through a state program focused on protecting working family farms.
