March 2023 Media Toolkit

Five Landscapes Approved for Protection

The Florida Governor and Cabinet approved funding for the permanent conservation of 21,063 acres within and adjacent to the Florida Wildlife Corridor during the March 13, 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.

Press

Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation Celebrates Properties Approved for Conservation

Governor Ron DeSantis Announces Approval of Over $46.6M to Conserve 21,000 Acres to Further the Florida Wildlife Corridor

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Please reach out to Kendra Parson at (850) 418-1126 with any media inquiries.

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On March 13, the Florida Governor and Cabinet approved funding for the permanent conservation of 21,063 acres across five properties within and adjacent to the Florida Wildlife Corridor. The properties are Telogia Creek (photo 1), Wolfe Creek Forest – Phase VII (photo 2), Lightsey Family Ranch, part of the Blue Head Ranch Florida Forever Project (photo 3), Big Bend Swamp – Holopaw Ranch (photo 4), and Myakka Ranchlands (photo 5). Telogia Creek, located near Apalachicola National Forest, is adjacent to the Florida Wildlife Corridor and will provide further land for wide ranging wildlife, protection of freshwater systems, and habitat for many native species.

The properties were funded through the Florida Forever program at Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Three of the five properties are to be protected by conservation easements, where the land will continue to be privately owned and managed. Telogia Creek and Wolfe Creek Forest are to be protected by acquisition set to expand existing public preserves.

Thank you to the leadership of the landowners, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Conservation Florida, the Trust for Public Land, and the Florida Conservation Group for coming together to make this opportunity possible.

Instagram tags: @fl.dep, @conservationflorida, @trustforpublicland, Florida Conservation Group, @wildpath, Photos and Videos by @leyoho, @ktbryden, @georgemckenziejr, @maxkellydesign, and Riley Mizell, Maps by @angeline.maps, @archboldstation

Facebook tags: @Florida Department of Environmental Protection, @ConserveFlorida, @Trust for Public Land, @Florida Conservation Group, @Wildpath, Photos and Videos by Lauren Yoho, @ktbryden, George McKenzie Jr., Max Kelly, and Riley Mizell Maps by Angeline Meeks, @Archbold Biological Station

Suggested Post: Wolfe Creek Forest is a 1,506 acre property in Santa Rosa County recently approved for permanent protection at the March 13, 2023 meeting of the Governor and Cabinet. The acquisition, located in the Northwest Florida Sentinel Landscape between Blackwater River State Forest to the east and Whiting Field Naval Air Station to the southwest, will protect numerous seepages and blackwater stream systems that are contiguous with the Blackwater River and other conservation lands within the Florida Wildlife Corridor. The wetlands and pine forests of this property support numerous wide-ranging animals such as the Florida black bear and bobcat.

Photos: (1) Big Coldwater Creek runs through the landscape (2) Black titi (Cliftonia monophylla) grows among (3 and 5) the pines and palmettos on the property. (4) A bobcat’s prints along a trail at Wolfe Creek Forest.

The acquisition was made possible by the partnership of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Trust for Public Land.

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 Post: Wolfe Creek Forest is a 1,506 acre property in Santa Rosa County recently approved at the March 13, 2023 meeting of the Governor and Cabinet for permanent protection. The acquisition, located between Blackwater River State Forest to the east and Whiting Field Naval Air Station to the southwest, will protect numerous seepages and blackwater stream systems that are contiguous with the Blackwater River and other conservation lands within the Florida Wildlife Corridor. The wetlands and pine forests of this property support numerous wide-ranging animals such as the Florida black bear and bobcat.

The acquisition was made possible by the partnership of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Trust for Public Land.

Reel tags: @fl.dep, @trustforpublicland, Video by @leyoho / @wildpath

Download Wolfe Creek Forest Images and Map Wolfe Creek Forest Reel

Suggested Post: Florida black bear are just one of the species that can be found on the Telogia Creek property. 12,439-acres were approved for permanent protection via full acquisition at the March 13, 2023 meeting of the Governor and Cabinet. This property is adjacent to the Florida Wildlife Corridor located near Apalachicola National Forest and Apalachicola River. It sits upstream from Telogia Creek’s confluence with Ochlocknee River. The acquisition will expand protection within the Northwest Florida Sentinel Landscape, as prioritized by a partnership with the US Department of Defense.

Photos: (1) An aerial of pine trees on the Telogia Creek landscape. (2) Telogia Creek located on the west side of the property. (3) Lichen (species: Evans’ Deer Moss / Cladonia evansii) grows along the forest’s floor. (4) Hyssopleaf Throughwort (scientific name: Eupatorium hyssopifolium) is a fall blooming plant native to North America. (5) A bear track in the sandy ground at Telogia Creek property.

Thank you to the leadership of the landowner and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, who came together to make this opportunity possible.

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, @archboldstation

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

Suggested post: The Telogia Creek property, 12,439-acres was approved for permanent protection via full acquisition at the March 13, 2023 meeting of the Governor Cabinet. This property is adjacent to the Florida Wildlife Corridor located near Apalachicola National Forest and River, upstream from Telogia Creek’s confluence with Ochlocknee River. The conservation will expand protected withing the Northwest Florida Sentinel Landscape as prioritized by a partnership with the US Department of Defense.

Thank you to the leadership of the landowner and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, who came together to make this opportunity possible.

Reel tags: @fl.dep, Videos by @leyoho / @wildpath

Download Telogia Creek Images and Map Telogia Creek Reels

Suggested Post: Located in Osceola County, Big Bend Swamp is home to many native bird species such as the bald eagle and the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker. It is also a working cattle ranch, named Holopaw Ranch, with expanses of palmetto prairies, pine flatwoods, and cypress swamps. The property is approved for protection through conservation easement, protecting and maintaining a link of natural lands between the Bull Creek and Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area.

Photos: (1) A serene sunset with a majestic bald eagle soaring by. (2) An aerial view of pine flatwoods and cypress swamps behind. (3) A mother cow and her calf take a stroll across the prairie with cypress swamps in the background. (4) The waters of Bull Creek wind through the forest, with a cormorant perched on a fallen tree. (5) A speedy turkey makes its way through tall grasses.

This Florida Wildlife Corridor conservation easement was made possible with the leadership of the landowners and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

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

Facebook tags: @Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Photos by @ktbryden / @Wildpath

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

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

Suggested Reel caption:

Located in Osceola County, Big Bend Swamp is home to many native bird species such as the bald eagle and the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker. It is also a working cattle ranch, named Holopaw Ranch, with expanses of palmetto prairies, pine flatwoods, and cypress swamps. The property is approved for protection through conservation easement, protecting and maintaining a link of natural lands between the Bull Creek and Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area.

This Florida Wildlife Corridor conservation easement was made possible with the leadership of the landowners and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

Reel tags: @fl.dep, Video by @ktbryden / @wildpath

Download Big Bend Swamp - Holopaw Ranch Images and Map Big Bend Swamp - Holopaw Ranch Reel

Suggested Post: An 1,611 acre conservation easement in Manatee County was approved for protection at the March 13, 2023 meeting of the Governor and Cabinet. It will protect a system of conservation areas and make a connection among state, county, and non-profit conservation lands in southwest Florida. Located near Myakka River State Park, the easement project consists of mesic flatwoods, marshes, and hammocks that are habitat for diverse native species including the Florida sandhill crane, Florida panther, fox squirrel, and gopher tortoise. These ranchlands also protect functional wetlands critical to the surrounding Myakka-Peace River Watershed.

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

Instagram tags: @fl.dep, Florida Conservation Group, @wildpath, Photos by @maxkellydesign and Riley Mizell

Facebook tags: @Florida Department of Environmental Protection, @Florida Conservation Group, @Wildpath, Photos by Max Kelly and Riley Mizell

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

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

Suggested Reel caption: An 1,611 acre conservation easement in Manatee County was approved for protection at the March 13, 2023 meeting of the Governor and Cabinet. It will protect a system of conservation areas and make a connection among state, county, and non-profit conservation lands in southwest Florida. Located near Myakka River State Park, the easement project consists of mesic flatwoods, marshes, and hammocks that are habitat for diverse native species including the Florida sandhill crane, Florida panther, fox squirrel, and gopher tortoise. These ranchlands also protect functional wetlands critical to the surrounding Myakka-Peace River Watershed.

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

Reel tags: @fl.dep, Florida Conservation Group, @wildpath, Video by Riley Mizell

Photos 1, 2, and 4 by Max Kelly, Photo 3 by Riley Mizell

Download Myakka Ranchlands Images and Map Myakka Ranchlands Reel

Photos 1 and 2 by Lauren Yoho / Wildpath, Photo 3 by George McKenzie Jr. / Wildpath, Photo 4 by Katie Bryden / Wildpath, Photo 5 by Max Kelly, Map by Angeline Meeks / Archbold Biological Station