The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has finalized a conservation easement for the 7,514-acre Kenansville Ranch in Osceola County. This move aims to preserve a historic working cattle ranch while protecting important wildlife habitats. The property is part of the Ranch Reserve Florida Forever Project, which is considered a priority for conservation.
Kenansville Ranch is home to about 1,600 cattle and includes pastures, pine flatwoods, and wetlands that are fed by Wolf Creek, Tenmile Creek, and Sixmile Creek. The conservation easement allows agricultural operations to continue but requires adherence to best management practices to protect water quality and the environment.
“Conservation easements preserve Florida’s landscapes while keeping working lands productive,” said DEP Secretary Alexis A. Lambert. “By supporting agriculture, safeguarding water resources and protecting wildlife, projects like Kenansville Ranch strengthen Florida’s role in the nation’s food security and natural resource conservation.”
The ranch is located within the Florida Wildlife Corridor and provides habitat for several rare and imperiled species, including the bald eagle, eastern indigo snake, Florida burrowing owl, red-cockaded woodpecker, and sandhill crane. It also links with other conservation lands such as the St. Johns River Water Management District’s Wolf Creek Ranch and Escape Ranch conservation easements. This connection creates a larger protected area that supports wildlife movement. The conservation easement was approved by Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet during a previous meeting.
Florida continues to lead national efforts in land protection through programs like Florida Forever. This program focuses on conserving land that offers environmental, recreational, and preservation benefits such as water quality protection, storm resilience, habitat preservation, and outdoor recreation opportunities.
Since 2019, more than $1.4 billion has been allocated to the Florida Forever Program. Of this amount, $950 million was directed specifically to the Florida Wildlife Corridor. These investments have allowed DEP to acquire over 374,000 acres for conservation since 2019; 91% of these lands are within the Florida Wildlife Corridor.
Additional information about the program can be found at https://floridaforever.org/.
