The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has finalized a conservation easement on the 7,514-acre Kenansville Ranch in Osceola County. This agreement ensures that the historic working cattle ranch remains operational while protecting important wildlife habitats. The property is part of the Ranch Reserve Florida Forever Project, a priority area for conservation efforts.
Kenansville Ranch supports about 1,600 cattle across a landscape of pastures, pine flatwoods, and wetlands nourished by Wolf Creek, Tenmile Creek, and Sixmile Creek. The conservation easement allows agricultural activity to continue but requires landowners to use best management practices designed to protect water quality and the surrounding 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 serves as habitat for several rare and threatened species, including the bald eagle, eastern indigo snake, Florida burrowing owl, red-cockaded woodpecker, and sandhill crane. It also links with nearby protected lands such as the St. Johns River Water Management District’s Wolf Creek Ranch and Escape Ranch conservation easements, expanding the area available for wildlife movement. The conservation easement was approved by Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet during a previous meeting.
Florida continues to lead in land protection efforts nationwide through its Florida Forever Program. The program aims to conserve land that offers environmental, recreational, and preservation benefits, including water resource protection, storm resilience, habitat safeguards, and outdoor recreation opportunities. Since 2019, the state has allocated over $1.4 billion to this program—$950 million of which has been directed specifically to the Florida Wildlife Corridor. As a result, DEP has acquired more than 374,000 acres for conservation since 2019; 91% of this acreage lies within the corridor.
More details about the Florida Forever Program are available at https://floridaforever.org/.
