December 2023 Board of Trustees Cabinet Meeting
Florida Wildlife Corridor Conservation Update
Digital Media Toolkit
The Florida Governor and Cabinet approved funding for the permanent conservation of 5,058 acres within the Florida Wildlife Corridor during the December 19, 2023 Cabinet meeting.
Please use this digital media toolkit to share this exciting news with your audience.
A message for our partners, colleagues, and friends in Florida: The protected lands of the Florida Wildlife Corridor are a place where our collective missions intersect. Land conservation successes contributing to the Corridor help ensure the long-term survival of many species, provide life support systems for Florida’s cities, improve the health of our waters, and protect natural Florida for future generations. As Florida grows, continued investment in conservation lands is critical to ensure that our wild lands will provide benefits to all Floridians.
Timeline
The news included in this media toolkit is under STRICT EMBARGO until after the cabinet meeting on December 19, 2023.
Overview: Three Properties Approved for Protection
Download Overview Carousel Photos and Map
Photos by Lauren Yoho / Wildpath, Map by Angeline Meeks / Archbold Biological Station
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On December 19, the State of Florida approved funding for the permanent conservation of 5,058 acres across three properties within the Florida Wildlife Corridor.
Thank you to the leadership of the landowners, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Florida Conservation Group, Keith Fountain Law, Saunders Real Estate, and other partners for coming together to make these opportunities possible.
The properties are Syfrett Ranch (Photo 1), Myakka Ranchlands (Photo 2), and Caloosahatchee Ecoscape (Photo 3).
Caloosahatchee Ecoscape and Myakka Ranchlands Projects were funded through the Florida Forever program at Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Syfrett Ranch was funded through Rural and Family Lands at Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. All three properties are to be protected by conservation easements, where the land will continue to be privately owned and managed.
Instagram tags: @fl.dep, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Florida Conservation Group, Photos by @leyoho, @wildpath, Maps by @angeline.maps, @archboldstation
Facebook tags: @Florida Department of Environmental Protection, @Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, @Florida Conservation Group, Photos by Lauren Yoho, @Wildpath, Maps by Angeline Meeks, @Archbold Biological Station
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On December 19, the State of Florida approved funding for the permanent conservation of 5,058 acres across three properties within the Florida Wildlife Corridor.
Thank you to the leadership of the landowners, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Florida Conservation Group, Keith Fountain Law, Saunders Real Estate, and other partners for coming together to make these opportunities possible.
The properties are Syfrett Ranch, Myakka Ranchlands, and Caloosahatchee Ecoscape.
Caloosahatchee Ecoscape and Myakka Ranchlands Projects were funded through the Florida Forever program at Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Syfrett Ranch was funded through Rural and Family Lands at Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. All three properties are to be protected by conservation easements, where the land will continue to be privately owned and managed.
Instagram tags: @fl.dep, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Florida Conservation Group, Video by @leyoho, @wildpath
Facebook tags: @Florida Department of Environmental Protection, @Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, @Florida Conservation Group, Video by Lauren Yoho, @Wildpath
Syfrett Ranch
Download Syfrett Ranch Photos and MapDownload Syfrett Ranch Reel
Photos 1-4 by Lauren Yoho / Wildpath, Photos 5-6 by Drew McDougall / Wildpath, Video by Lauren Yoho / Wildpath
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Syfrett Ranch is a property within the Florida Wildlife Corridor that was recently approved for a conservation easement through the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program at the December 19, 2023 meeting of the Governor and Cabinet.
Thank you to the landowners, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and Saunders Real Estate for coming together to protect this land.
The 2,101.5-acre property is located in Highlands and Glades County. The property is part of the Lake Okeechobee Watershed and features large cabbage palm hammocks. The new conservation easement will bring added protection to working lands in the area. Syfrett Ranch supports habitat for crested caracara, Osceola turkeys, white tail deer, bald eagles, and more.
Instagram tags: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Photos 1-4 by @leyoho / @wildpath, Photos 5-6 by @drew_mcdougall / @wildpath
Facebook tags: @Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Photos 1-4 by Lauren Yoho / @Wildpath, Photos 5-6 by Drew McDougall / @Wildpath
Map Instagram tags: Map by @angeline.maps, @archboldstation
Map Facebook tags: Map by Angeline Meeks, @Archbold Biological Station
Myakka Ranchlands
Download Myakka Ranchlands Photos and MapDownload Myakka Ranchlands Reel
Photos and Video by Lauren Yoho / Wildpath
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The 1,531-acre Myakka Ranchlands Project – 4L’s Ranch, located in the Florida Wildlife Corridor, was recently approved for a conservation easement through Florida Forever at the December 19, 2023 meeting of the Governor and Cabinet.
Thank you to the landowner, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and Florida Conservation Group for coming together to conserve this property.
The ranch contains a variety of upland areas such as mesic flatwoods, wetland depression marshes, wet prairie, and improved pasture. The property provides habitat for gopher tortoises, Florida sandhill crane, the Southeastern American Kestrel, and many more. Along a waterside divide between Myakka Watershed and the Peace River Watershed, the land provides important protection to water quality and quantity.
Instagram tags: @fl.dep, Florida Conservation Group, Photos by @leyoho / @wildpath
Facebook tags: @Florida Department of Environmental Protection, @Florida Conservation Group, Photos by Lauren Yoho / @Wildpath
Map Instagram tags: Map by @angeline.maps, @archboldstation
Map Facebook tags: Map by Angeline Meeks, @Archbold Biological Station
Caloosahatchee Ecoscape
Download Caloosahatchee Ecoscape Photos and MapDownload Caloosahatchee Ecoscape Reel
Photos 1-4 and 6 by Lauren Yoho/Wildpath, Photo 5 by Carlton Ward Jr./Wildpath, Video by Lauren Yoho/Wildpath
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Caloosahatchee Ecoscape Florida Forever Project – Ferguson-House Farms, was recently approved for conservation at the December 19, 2023 meeting of the Governor and Cabinet. The 1,425.5-acre approved conservation easement is located within the Florida Wildlife Corridor.
Thank you to the leadership of the landowners, the Department of Environmental Protection, and Keith Fountain Law for coming together to protect this land.
The property is a working cattle ranch located in Hendry County, south of State Road 80. The ranch is home to many native species including Florida panthers, Florida black bears, wood storks, white ibises, and Florida sandhill cranes. The land brings critical connection to other conservation areas important to the Florida panthers’ northward recovery and long-term survival (Photo 5).
Two smaller properties are being acquired through the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s delegation of authority. The two other properties are located north of State Road 80 and bordering the Caloosahatchee River (Photo 6), close to the approved parcel. The three properties complement each other to provide an essential safeguard to the Caloosahatchee River and its water quality.
Instagram tags: @fl.dep, Photos 1-4 and 6 by @leyoho / @wildpath, Photo 5 by @carltonward / @wildpath
Facebook tags: @Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Photos 1-4 and 6 by Lauren Yoho / @wildpath, Photo 5 by @carltonward / @wildpath
Map Instagram tags: Map by @angeline.maps, @archboldstation
Map Facebook tags: Map by Angeline Meeks, @Archbold Biological Station
Suggested Hastags
#KeepFLWild #ConnectTheCorridor #FloridaWildlifeCorridor
#WildlifeCorridors #ProtectWildPlaces #LandConservation #WildFlorida
Usage Rights
Visuals by Lauren Yoho, Carlton Ward Jr., Drew McDougall, and Angeline Meeks provided for one-time use for coverage or promotion of Florida Wildlife Corridor-related news from the December 19 Board of Trustees meeting, dated December 2023. Copying, sublicensing, sale, distribution, and archiving are prohibited.
Mandatory Social Media Usage Requirements
For images, include the photo credit tag as listed:
- Instagram: @Wildpath, Photo by @leyoho, @carltonward, or @drew_mcdougall (reference photo grids for credit guidance)
- Facebook: @Wildpath, Photo by Lauren Yoho, @CarltonWard, or Drew McDougall (reference photo grids for credit guidance)
- Twitter: Photo by Lauren Yoho, @CarltonWard, or Drew McDougall (reference photo grids for credit guidance)
For maps, include the map photo credits:
- Instagram: Map by @angeline.maps and @archboldstation
- Facebook: Map by Angeline Meeks, @Archbold Biological Station
- Twitter: @AngelineMeeks and @ArchboldStation
Mandatory Online/Print Usage Requirements for Multimedia
Include the photo/map credit:
Photos:
- Lauren Yoho/Wildpath
- Carlton Ward Jr./Wildpath
- Drew McDougall/Wildpath
Map: Angeline Meeks, Archbold Biological Station
Mandatory On-Air Usage Requirements for Multimedia
For on-air usage, include credit with each photo, map, or video used:
Photos:
- Lauren Yoho/Wildpath
- Carlton Ward Jr./Wildpath
- Drew McDougall/Wildpath
Map: Angeline Meeks, Archbold Biological Station
