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 in Tallahassee, will secure a total of 20,086 acres through various acquisitions and conservation easements. Six of these properties are located within the Florida Wildlife Corridor, while another will add to Cary State Forest in Duval County.
In addition to land conservation efforts, the Governor and Cabinet authorized 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.
“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 newly protected areas include two conservation easements and one acquisition totaling 13,375 acres within the Caloosahatchee Big Cypress Corridor in Collier and Hendry counties. These properties connect key habitats such as the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge, Big Cypress National Preserve, and Dinner Island Wildlife Management Area. They support agricultural operations while providing habitat for imperiled species like the Florida panther.
A 3,094-acre conservation easement within Putnam County’s Little Orange Creek Corridor project strengthens links within the Ocala-to-Osceola Wildlife Corridor. The landowner is restoring hardwood forests and sandhill ecosystems while protecting wetlands that help maintain water quality in Little Orange Creek.
In Martin County, a 1,670-acre conservation easement at Bar-B Ranch supports shallow water storage and regional water quality improvements tied to Everglades restoration projects. This working cattle ranch benefits both local estuaries and broader ecosystem health.
A further 1,400-acre easement at Big Bend Swamp/Holopaw Ranch in Osceola County helps connect Bull Creek with Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area by maintaining a wildlife crossing under the Florida Turnpike. The property also contributes to aquifer recharge and protects water flow into major river systems.
Duval County will see a 543-acre acquisition added to Cary State Forest as part of efforts to restore habitat for species such as gopher tortoises while improving water quality in the Lower St. Johns River Basin. This parcel was previously slated for residential development but will now be managed by the Florida Forest Service for public recreation.
Additionally, Okaloosa County will gain four acres at Norriego Point Beach Access and Park in Destin. The new land will improve public access to beachfront areas and recreational opportunities including boating and fishing.
The Cabinet also approved permanent agricultural land conservation easements over more than 10,000 acres through the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program run by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
