Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet have approved the protection of 20,086 acres of conservation lands, allocating $167.25 million for this initiative. The decision includes six properties within the Florida Wildlife Corridor and an expansion of Cary State Forest in Duval County.
Additionally, a 2.63-acre parcel in Miami-Dade County adjacent to the Freedom Tower was approved for conveyance to serve as the site for the Donald J. Trump Presidential Library.
“Yesterday’s approvals protect more than 20,000 acres of Florida’s most important landscapes,” said Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Alexis A. Lambert. “By conserving these lands, we are preserving clean water, safeguarding wildlife and ensuring future generations can experience the Florida we know and love.”
The land acquisitions include two conservation easements and one purchase totaling 13,375 acres within the Caloosahatchee Big Cypress Corridor in Collier and Hendry counties. These areas enhance connections between existing protected lands such as the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge, Big Cypress National Preserve, and Dinner Island Wildlife Management Area. The properties support habitats for species like the Florida panther while allowing ongoing agricultural operations.
A 3,094-acre conservation easement in Putnam County’s Little Orange Creek Corridor aims to connect segments of the Ocala-to-Osceola Wildlife Corridor. Restoration efforts by landowners focus on improving hardwood forests and sandhill habitats while protecting wetlands that contribute to water quality in Little Orange Creek.
In Martin County, a 1,670-acre conservation easement at Bar-B Ranch is adjacent to the C-44 Stormwater Treatment Area and is part of broader Everglades restoration plans. This working cattle ranch supports water storage and regional water quality improvements benefiting nearby estuaries and ecosystems.
A further 1,400-acre conservation easement in Osceola County’s Big Bend Swamp/Holopaw Ranch will link lands between Bull Creek and Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area. The property maintains a wildlife crossing under the Florida Turnpike and contributes to aquifer recharge for central Florida’s water systems.
In Duval County, a 543-acre parcel previously slated for residential development will now be managed by the Florida Forest Service as part of Cary State Forest. This acquisition aims to protect species such as the gopher tortoise while supporting water quality restoration efforts in the Lower St. Johns River Basin.
Okaloosa County will see a four-acre addition to Destin’s Norriego Point Beach Access and Park. The new land will improve public access by connecting park facilities with Gulf Shore Drive and expanding recreational opportunities along the beachfront.
The Cabinet also approved permanent agricultural land conservation easements over more than 10,000 acres through a program run by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services aimed at protecting rural family lands.
More information about these land approvals is available online.
