Governor Ron DeSantis and Florida Cabinet conserve over 78,000 acres of conservation lands
Projects support Florida Forever, the Rural & Family Lands Protection Program, and the Ocala to Osceola Wildlife Corridor Project
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Camp Blanding to Raiford Greenway Florida Forever Project | Photo by Lauren Yoho/Wildpath |
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TALLAHASSEE, Florida – On June 10, 2025, Governor Ron DeSantis, Attorney General James Uthmeier, and Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson approved the protection of more than 78,000 acres of lands throughout Florida, including over 76,000 thousand in rural Florida within the Ocala-to-Osceola Wildlife Corridor. These key acquisitions close the final, major gap in a 100-mile, 1.6-million-acre network of public and private lands connecting the Ocala and Osceola National Forests.
Since 2019, the state has invested more than $1.4 billion in land conservation through the Florida Forever Program. This consistent funding has enabled the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to acquire over 374,000 acres for conservation, 90% of which are within the Florida Wildlife Corridor.
About the land acquisition approvals:
A 61,389-acre conservation easement within the Raiford to Osceola Greenway Florida Forever Project in Baker and Union counties will help prevent habitat fragmentation in the Ocala-to-Osceola Wildlife Corridor and support the long-term sustainability of the working forestland vital to the local economy. Protecting this large landscape tract will also safeguard regional water supply and water quality, support natural ecosystem functions, enhance flood protection and recharge the aquifer. This property is within the Florida Wildlife Corridor.
A 14,743-acre conservation easement within the Camp Blanding to Raiford Greenway Florida Forever Project in Baker and Bradford counties will provide a critical landscape connection to the Camp Blanding Military Reservation, Jennings State Forest and other conservation lands within the Ocala-to-Osceola Wildlife Corridor. Located in the Suwannee River Basin and Santa Fe River springshed, the property plays a vital role in flood attenuation, groundwater recharge and supporting diverse wildlife habitats. This property is within the Florida Wildlife Corridor.
A 1,700 acre conservation easement that will connect to an adjacent Rural and Family Lands Protection Program Easement in Alachua, Bradford, Clay and Putnam counties that will protect a multi-generation pine plantation in rural North Florida. The approval represents 128th perpetual easement proposed for acquisition, with a total of approximately 208,629 acres preserved under the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, ensuring that working lands remain undeveloped while continuing to support Florida’s agricultural economy.
A 340-acre acquisition within the Annutteliga Hammock Florida Forever Project in Hernando County will prevent development and enhance connectivity between the Withlacoochee State Forest and the Chassahowitzka Wildlife Management Area. Located along the border of the Springs Coast and Withlacoochee River watersheds, this property helps protect aquifer recharge and maintain water quality and quantity in the region. It will be managed by the Florida Forest Service as an addition to the Withlacoochee State Forest, providing expanded opportunities for outdoor recreation. This property is within the Florida Wildlife Corridor.
More information on the land acquisition approvals can be found here. |
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