Overview: Six Properties Approved for Protection

Photos 1, 3, and 4 by Lauren Yoho / Wildpath, Photos 2, 5 and 6 by Carlton Ward Jr. / Wildpath, Map by Angeline Meeks / Archbold Biological Station

Video by Lauren Yoho and Carlton Ward Jr. / Wildpath

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On September 18, the State of Florida approved funding for the permanent conservation of 42,409 acres across six 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, Tall Timbers, Trust for Public Land, Archbold Biological Station, Keith Fountain Law, and other partners for coming together to make these opportunities possible.  

The properties are Red Hills Conservation (Photo 1), Buck Island Ranch – Phase II  (Photo 2), Natural Bridge Timberlands (Photo 3), Wolfe Creek Forest – Phase VIII (Photo 4), Adams Ranch – Phase IV (Photo 5), and Devil’s Garden (Photo 6). 

Devil’s Garden, Red Hills Conservation, Natural Bridge Timberlands, and Wolfe Creek Forest properties were funded through the Florida Forever program at Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Adams Ranch and Buck Island Ranch were funded through Rural and Family Lands at Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Buck Island Ranch, Adams Ranch, and Red Hills Conservation are to be protected by conservation easements, where the land will continue to be privately owned and managed. Wolfe Creek Forest, Devil’s Garden, and Natural Bridge Timberlands are to be purchased by the State of Florida to expand existing public land.  

Instagram tags: @fl.dep, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Florida Conservation Group, @talltimbersresearch, @trustforpublicland, @archboldstation, Keith Fountain Law, Photos by @leyoho and @carltonward, @wildpath, Maps by @angeline.maps, @archboldstation

Facebook tags: @Florida Department of Environmental Protection, @Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, @Florida Conservation Group, @Tall Timbers, a Research Station & Land Conservancy, @Trust for Public Land, @Archbold Biological Station, Keith Fountain Law, Photos by Lauren Yoho and @CarltonWard, @Wildpath, Maps by Angeline Meeks, @Archbold Biological Station

Devil’s Garden

Photos and Videos by Carlton Ward Jr./Wildpath

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At the September 18, 2023 meeting of the Governor and Cabinet, 17,229 acres within the Devil’s Garden Florida Forever Project in Hendry County were approved for acquisition.

Thank you to the leadership of landowners and the Department of Environmental Protection for coming together to make this opportunity possible.

Devil’s Garden is located in the Florida Wildlife Corridor and borders the Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest in Hendry County. It is home to many important species including the endangered Florida panther, Florida black bear, white ibis, eastern indigo snakes, wood stork, and more. The newly approved acquisition will provide crucial land connectivity helping to protect the state’s biodiversity.  

Instagram tags: @fl.dep, Photos by @carltonward / @wildpath

Facebook tags: @Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Photos by @Carlton Ward / @wildpath

Map Instagram tags: Map by @angeline.maps, @archboldstation

Map Facebook tags: Map by Angeline Meeks, @Archbold Biological Station

Adams Ranch – Phase IV

Photos 1, 3, and 4 by Carlton Ward Jr./Wildpath, Photo 2 by Zach Adams

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Adams 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 September 18, 2023 meeting of the Governor and Cabinet.

Thank you to the landowners, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and Keith Fountain Law for coming together to make this opportunity possible. 

The 8,881-acre property is located in southern Osceola County and Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge. The property is part of a fourth-generation cattle operation that encompasses a large area of native dry prairie and wetland marshes. The new conservation easement provides critical connectivity within the Florida Wildlife Corridor supporting habitat for threatened and endangered species like the Florida burrowing owl, gopher tortoise, and crested caracara.

Instagram tags: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Photos 1, 3, and 4 by @carltonward / @wildpath, Photo 2 by Zach Adams

Facebook tags: @Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Photos 1, 3, and 4 by @CarltonWard / @Wildpath, Photo 2 by Zach Adams

Map Instagram tags: Map by @angeline.maps, @archboldstation

Map Facebook tags: Map by Angeline Meeks, @Archbold Biological Station

Natural Bridge Timberlands

Photos and Videos by Lauren Yoho/Wildpath

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The 5,454-acre Natural Bridge Timberlands property, located in the Florida Wildlife Corridor and the Northwest Sentinel Landscape, was recently approved for acquisition through Florida Forever at the September 18, 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 protect this property.  

Natural Bridge Timberlands shares its borders with Natural Bridge Battlefield Historic State Park and Plank Road State Forest. The permanent conservation of this land will protect the water quality of the St. Marks River and the connected natural springs within the Upper St. Marks River Basin. By connecting critical conservation lands in the Florida Wildlife Corridor, this new acquisition safeguards habitat for wide-ranging species like the Florida black bear.

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

Red Hills Conservation

Photos and Videos by Lauren Yoho/Wildpath

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Red Hills Conservation Florida Forever Project was recently approved for conservation at the September 18, 2023 meeting of the Governor and Cabinet. The 4,808-acre approved conservation easement is located within the Red Hills Region of Leon County.  

Thank you to the leadership of the landowners, the Department of Environmental Protection, and Tall Timbers for coming together to protect this land.

The property is comprised of rolling pine uplands and depressional wetlands including more than half of Foshalee Slough, which lies within the northern border. Many native species call this area home such as the Southeastern fox squirrel, gopher tortoise, Bachman’s sparrow, Florida black bear, and more. Red Hills Conservation Project is located within the Florida Wildlife Corridor and contributes to critical land connectivity, sustainable forestry, and groundwater recharge in the state.

Instagram tags: @fl.dep, @talltimbersresearch, Photos by @leyoho / @wildpath

Facebook tags: @Florida Department of Environmental Protection, @Tall Timbers, a Research Station & Land Conservancy, Photos by Lauren Yoho / @Wildpath

Map Instagram tags: Map by @angeline.maps, @archboldstation

Map Facebook tags: Map by Angeline Meeks, @Archbold Biological Station

Buck Island Ranch – Phase II

Photos 1, 2, 3, and 5 by Carlton Ward Jr./Wildpath, Photo 4 by Haoyu Li

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Buck Island Ranch – Phase II is a 4,491-acre easement within the 10,500-acre property and falling within the Florida Wildlife Corridor. It was approved at the September 18, 2023 meeting of the Governor and Cabinet through the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program.

Thank you to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Archbold Biological Station, and Keith Fountain Law for coming together to protect this land.

The property, which is owned and managed by Archbold Biological Station, is a working cattle ranch. It also serves as a study site where scientists and ranchers work together to understand the impact of ranching and improve its sustainability (Photo 3). Archbold’s Buck Island Ranch is among the top 20 beef cow-calf producers in the state, sustains valuable Florida grassland biodiversity. The ranch is enrolled in Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Best Management Practices. Buck Island Ranch is home to over 500 plant species, 171 documented bird species, and many state and federally listed animal species such as Florida panthers, burrowing owls, and Eastern indigo snakes.  

Instagram tags: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, @archboldstation, Photos 1, 2, 3, and 5 by @carltonward / @wildpath, Photo 4 by Haoyu Li

Facebook tags: @Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, @Archbold Biological Station, Photos 1, 2, 3, and 5 by @CarltonWard / @Wildpath, Photo 4 by Haoyi Li

Map Instagram tags: Map by @angeline.maps, @archboldstation

Map Facebook tags: Map by Angeline Meeks, @Archbold Biological Station

Wolfe Creek Forest – Phase VIII

Photos and Videos by Lauren Yoho/Wildpath

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Wolfe Creek Forest – Phase VIII Florida Forever Project in Santa Rosa County has been newly approved for permanent protection at the September 18, 2023 meeting of the Governor and Cabinet.

Thank you to the landowner, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and the Trust for Public Land for making this acquisition possible. 

The 1,546-acre property is located within the Florida Wildlife Corridor and borders Blackwater River State Forest. This parcel is part of a multi-phase project that with this recent approval has over 12,000 acres conserved. Wolfe Creek Forest forms an important connection to the state forest and has streams that flow into Big Juniper Creek (Photos 3 and 5). The acquisition will also provide increased public access and recreational opportunities to Blackwater River State Forest.   

Instagram tags: @fl.dep, @trustforpublicland, Photos by @leyoho / @wildpath

Facebook tags: @Florida Department of Environmental Protection, @Trust for Public Land, Photos by Lauren Yoho / @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., Zach Adams, Haoyu Li, and Angeline Meeks provided for one-time use for coverage or promotion of Florida Wildlife Corridor-related news from the September 18 Board of Trustees meeting, dated September 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, Haoyu Li, or Zach Adams (reference photo grids for credit guidance)
• Facebook: @Wildpath, Photo by Lauren Yoho, @CarltonWard, Haoyu Li, or Zach Adams (reference photo grids for credit guidance)
• Twitter: Photo by Lauren Yoho, @CarltonWard, Haoyu Li, or Zach Adams (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
• Haoyi Li
• Zach Adams

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
• Haoyu Li
• Zach Adams

Map: Angeline Meeks, Archbold Biological Station