The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has finalized a conservation easement for the 7,514-acre Kenansville Ranch in Osceola County. This action preserves a working cattle ranch and safeguards important wildlife habitats within the Ranch Reserve Florida Forever Project, which is a conservation priority.
Kenansville Ranch operates with about 1,600 cattle across various landscapes, including pastures, pine flatwoods, and wetlands that are sustained by Wolf Creek, Tenmile Creek, and Sixmile Creek. The conservation easement allows the land to remain in agricultural use while requiring 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 species such as the bald eagle, eastern indigo snake, Florida burrowing owl, red-cockaded woodpecker, and sandhill crane. It also links with other protected lands, including the St. Johns River Water Management District’s Wolf Creek Ranch and Escape Ranch conservation easements. This network supports wildlife movement across a broader landscape. The easement was approved by Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet in a previous meeting.
Florida’s land protection initiatives are recognized as leading examples nationwide. The Florida Forever Program aims to conserve land that offers environmental, recreational, and preservation benefits. These include protecting water resources, increasing resilience to storms, preserving habitats and species, and providing outdoor recreation opportunities.
Since 2019, more than $1.4 billion has been allocated to the Florida Forever Program, with $950 million directed specifically to the Florida Wildlife Corridor. This funding has enabled DEP to secure over 374,000 acres for conservation since 2019, with 91% of that land within the Florida Wildlife Corridor.
More information about the Florida Forever Program can be found at FloridaForever.org.
