March 2025 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 19,467.64 acres within and adjacent to the Florida Wildlife Corridor during the March 5, 2025 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.
Overview: Seven Properties Approved for Protection
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Photos 1-4, 7 by Lauren Yoho/Wildpath, Photo 5-6 by Jen Guyton/Wildpath, Map by Angeline Meeks/Live Wildly Foundation
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On March 5, the State of Florida approved funding for the permanent conservation of 19,467.64 acres across seven properties within and adjacent to the Florida Wildlife Corridor.
Thank you to the leadership of the landowners, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Southwest Florida Water Management District, Florida Conservation Group, Putnam Land Conservancy, Brown Land, Saunders Real Estate, Tarpon Blue, and other partners for coming together to make these opportunities possible.
The properties are Etoniah/Cross Florida Greenway Project – Suttlemyre Limited Partnership (Photo 1), Ranch Reserve Project – Kenansville Ranch (Photo 2), Ryals Citrus and Cattle (Photo 3), Caloosahatchee/Big Cypress Corridor Project– I.M.G. Enterprises (Photo 4), Headwaters Ranch (Photo 5), Williams Heritage Property (Photo 6), and Caloosahatchee/Big Cypress Corridor Project – Tamiami Citrus (Photo 7).
Ryals Citrus and Cattle, Williams Heritage Property, and Headwaters Ranch are to be protected through rural lands conservation easements funded through the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program at the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Ranch Reserve Project was approved as a conservation easement, funded through Florida Forever at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Etoniah/Cross Florida Greenway Project, Caloosahatchee/Big Cypress – Tamiami Citrus, and Caloosahatchee/Big Cypress – I.M.G. Enterprises are approved for fee acquisitions through Florida Forever at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
Instagram tags: @fl.dep, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, @floridaconservationfcg, @putnam.land.conservancy, Photos 1-4, 7 by @leyoho/@wildpath, Photo 5-6 by @jenguyton/@wildpath, Maps by @angeline.maps, @livewildlyfl
Facebook tags: @Florida Department of Environmental Protection, @Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, @FloridaConserve, @Putnam Land Conservancy, Photos 1-4, 7 by Lauren Yoho/@Wildpath, Photo 5-6 by Jen Guyton/@Wildpath, Maps by Angeline Meeks/@Livewildlyfl
Ranch Reserve – Kenansville Ranch
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Photos by Lauren Yoho/Wildpath, Map by Angeline Meeks/Live Wildly Foundation
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The 7,548-acre Ranch Reserve Florida Forever Project / Kenansville Ranch, located in the Florida Wildlife Corridor, was recently approved for a conservation easement through Florida Forever at the March 5 meeting of the Governor and Cabinet.
Thank you to the landowner, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and Brown Land for coming together to conserve this property.
Kenansville Ranch is a working cattle ranch within Osceola County. The property has three creeks flowing through it, Wolf Creek, Tenmile Creek, and Sixmile Creek. Kenansville Ranch provides crucial habitat for many rare and imperiled species including arogos skipper, bald eagle, eastern indigo snake, Florida burrowing owl, southern fox squirrel, red-cockaded woodpecker and sandhill crane.
Instagram tags: @fl.dep, Photos by @leyoho/@wildpath
Facebook tags: @Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Photos by Lauren Yoho/@Wildpath
Map Instagram tags: Map by @angeline.maps, @livewildlyfl
Map Facebook tags: Map by Angeline Meeks, @Livewildlyfl
Ryals Citrus and Cattle
Download Ryals Citrus and Cattle Photos and Map
Photos by Lauren Yoho/Wildpath, Map by Angeline Meeks/Live Wildly Foundation
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A 3,722-acre parcel of the Ryals Citrus and Cattle ranch was recently approved for a rural lands conservation easement through the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program at the March 5 meeting of the Governor and Cabinet. The ranch is located within the Florida Wildlife Corridor and Charlotte County.
Thank you to the landowner, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and Florida Conservation Group for coming together to conserve this property.
Ryals Citrus and Cattle is a working cattle ranch and watermelon farm (Photos 2 and 4). The Ryals family began ranching this land 100 years ago. The property helps protect Prairie Creek, a headwater for the Peace River and provides habitat to multiple species.
Instagram tags: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, @floridaconservationfcg, Photos by @leyoho/@wildpath
Facebook tags: @Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, @FloridaConserve, Photos by Lauren Yoho/@Wildpath
Map Instagram tags: Map by @angeline.maps, @livewildlyfl
Map Facebook tags: Map by Angeline Meeks, @Livewildlyfl
Williams Heritage Property
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Photos by Jen Guyton/Wildpath, Map by Angeline Meeks/Live Wildly Foundation
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Williams Heritage Property has been newly approved for a rural lands conservation easement through the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program at the March 5 meeting of the Governor and Cabinet. The easement is 1,782.57 acres and located adjacent to the Florida Wildlife Corridor and within Levy County.
Thank you to the landowner, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and Florida Conservation Group for coming together to make this conservation easement possible.
The Williams Heritage Property is a family-run farm and cattle ranch. They grow corn, peanuts, watermelon, cabbage, green beans, rye, and oats. Protection of this property will help to enhance water quality, aquifer recharge, flow attenuation, and flood hazard reduction.
Instagram tags: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, @floridaconservationfcg, Photos by @jenguyton/@wildpath
Facebook tags: @Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, @FloridaConserve, Photos by Jen Guyton/@Wildpath
Map Instagram tags: Map by @angeline.maps, @livewildlyfl
Map Facebook tags: Map by Angeline Meeks, @Livewildlyfl
Etoniah/Cross Florida Greenway – Suttlemyre Limited Partnership
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Photos by Lauren Yoho/Wildpath, Map by Angeline Meeks/Live Wildly Foundation
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The 1,541-acre Etoniah/Cross Florida Greenway Florida Forever Project, located in the Florida Wildlife Corridor, was recently approved for protection by way of fee acquisition at the March 5 meeting of the Governor and Cabinet.
Thank you to the landowner, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and Putnam Land Conservancy for coming together to conserve this property.
The property is located in the Ocala to Osceola Wildlife Corridor and will create important connections between existing conservation land. The southern section of the property has frontage to Rodman Reservoir, part of the Ocklawaha River basin, a tributary of the St. Johns River. Conservation of the property will protect surface water and aquifer recharge. The property provides habitat to Florida black bears, gopher tortoises, swallow-tailed kite, and sandhill crane.
Instagram tags: @fl.dep, @putnam.land.conservancy, Photos by @leyoho/@wildpath
Facebook tags: @Florida Department of Environmental Protection, @Putnam Land Conservancy, Photos by Lauren Yoho/@Wildpath
Map Instagram tags: Map by @angeline.maps, @livewildlyfl
Map Facebook tags: Map by Angeline Meeks, @Livewildlyfl
Caloosahatchee/Big Cypress – I.M.G. Enterprises Inc.
Download Caloosahatchee/Big Cypress – I.M.G. Enterprises Photos and Map
Photos by Lauren Yoho/Wildpath, Map by Angeline Meeks/Live Wildly Foundation
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The 1,304-acre Caloosahatchee/Big Cypress Corridor Florida Forever Project – I.M.G. Enterprises was recently approved for protection by way of fee acquisition through Florida Forever at the March 5 meeting of the Governor and Cabinet. The property is located within the Florida Wildlife Corridor and Hendry County.
Thank you to the landowner, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and Dean Saunders for coming together to conserve this property.
The property has been used for agriculture as a citrus grove. The protection of this property will provide connection between the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge and Big Cypress National Preserve to Dinner Island Wildlife Management Area. The conservation of the land provides habitat and safe passage for Florida panthers and Florida black bears.
Instagram tags: @fl.dep, Photos by @leyoho/@wildpath
Facebook tags: @Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Photos by Lauren Yoho/@Wildpath
Map Instagram tags: Map by @angeline.maps, @livewildlyfl
Map Facebook tags: Map by Angeline Meeks, @Livewildlyfl
Headwaters Ranch
Download Headwaters Ranch Photos and Map
Photos by Jen Guyton/Wildpath, Map by Angeline Meeks/Live Wildly Foundation
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Headwaters Ranch was recently approved for a rural lands conservation easement at the March 5 meeting of the Governor and Cabinet through the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. The 993.07-acre property is in Lake County and within the Florida Wildlife Corridor.
Thank you to the landowners, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Southwest Florida Water Management District, and Florida Conservation Group for coming together to protect this land.
Headwaters Ranch is a working cattle ranch. The headwaters of the Withlacoochee River run through the property, which has been designated by the State of Florida as an Outstanding Florida Waterway. The ranch provides habitat for storks, cranes, alligators, bobcats, and many other species.
Instagram tags: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Photos by @jenguyton/@wildpath
Facebook tags: @Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, @FloridaConserve, Photos by Jen Guyton/@Wildpath
Map Instagram tags: Map by @angeline.maps, @livewildlyfl
Map Facebook tags: Map by Angeline Meeks, @Livewildlyfl
Suggested Hashtags
#KeepFLWild #ConnectTheCorridor #FloridaWildlifeCorridor
#WildlifeCorridors #ProtectWildPlaces #LandConservation #WildFlorida
Usage Rights
Visuals by Lauren Yoho, Jen Guyton, and Angeline Meeks provided for one-time use for coverage or promotion of Florida Wildlife Corridor-related news from the March 5 Board of Trustees meeting, dated March 2025. 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, @jenguyton (reference photo grids for credit guidance)
- Facebook: @Wildpath, Photo by Lauren Yoho, Jen Guyton (reference photo grids for credit guidance)
- X: Photo by Lauren Yoho, Jen Guyton (reference photo grids for credit guidance)
For maps, include the map photo credits:
- Instagram: Map by @angeline.maps and @livewildlyfl
- Facebook: Map by Angeline Meeks, @livewildlyfl
- X: @AngelineMeeks and @livewildlyfl
Mandatory Online/Print Usage Requirements for Multimedia
Include the photo/map credit:
Photos:
- Lauren Yoho/Wildpath
- Jen Guyton/Wildpath
Map: Angeline Meeks, Live Wildly Foundation
Mandatory On-Air Usage Requirements for Multimedia
For on-air usage, include credit with each photo, map, or video used:
Photos:
- Lauren Yoho/Wildpath
- Jen Guyton/Wildpath
Map: Angeline Meeks, Live Wildly Foundation
