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The 25,039-acre Caloosahatchee – Big Cypress Corridor Project, located in the Florida Wildlife Corridor, was recently approved for a fee acquisition through Florida Forever at the March 26 meeting of the Governor and Cabinet.

Thank you to the landowner, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and The Nature Conservancy for coming together to conserve this property.

The property strengthens connectivity between the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge and Big Cypress National Preserve to Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest and Dinner Island Wildlife Management Area. The conservation of these lands provides protection to water resources and adds to wildlife corridors for many species including the Florida panther. The land will continue to be used for agricultural work, managed through a lease with the Department of Environmental Protection.

Instagram tags: @fl.dep, @nature_org, Photos 1 and 4 by @edchappellimages, Photo 2 by @carltonward, Photo 3 provided by Tarpon Blue

Facebook tags: @Florida Department of Environmental Protection, @The Nature Conservancy/@The Nature Conservancy in Florida, Photos 1 and 4 by @Ed Chappell Inc, Photo 2 by @carltonward, Photo 3 provided by Tarpon Blue

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

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

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Rainey Pasture is a 5,269-acre property within the Florida Wildlife Corridor that was recently approved for a conservation easement through the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program at the March 26 meeting of the Governor and Cabinet.

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

Rainey Pasture is used as a working land for timber production within Marion County. The property is in the Silver Springs Watershed and adjacent to the Ocklawaha River, providing several miles of river protection that is part of the Ocklawaha River Aquatic Preserve that has been designated as an Outstanding Florida Waterway. The land provides habitat for Florida black bears, gopher tortoises, bald eagles, wild turkey, white-tailed deer, and more.

Instagram tags: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Photos by @leyoho / @wildpath

Facebook tags: @Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Photos by Lauren Yoho / @Wildpath

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

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

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Heart Bar Ranch has been newly approved for a conservation easement through the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program at the March 26, 2024 meeting of the Governor and Cabinet. The property is a 3,080-acre cattle ranch within the Florida Wildlife Corridor.

Thank you to the landowners, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Saunders Real Estate, and Keith Fountain Law for coming together to make this conservation easement possible.

Heart Bar Ranch is located in Osceola County and will continue to be a working cattle ranch managed by 5th and 6th generation family farmers. The property is also used for other agricultural activities including timber, wildlife management, and seed business. The land is primarily made up of pine flatwoods, forested wetlands, and herbaceous wetlands. Camp Lonesome Creek winds though 4 miles of the ranch and then flows into Canoe Creek. Heart Bar Ranch provides protection to water resources of the Northern Everglades watershed and provides habitat to burrowing owls, gopher tortoises, Eastern indigo snakes, Florida scrub-jays, and many other wildlife.

Instagram tags: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Photos 1-5 by @leyoho/@wildpath, Photo 6 by Cindy Partin

Facebook tags: @Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Photos 1-5 by Lauren Yoho/@wildpath, Photo 6 by Cindy Partin

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

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

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Lake Hatchineha Watershed Florida Forever Project – Creek Ranch has been newly approved for permanent protection by way of fee acquisition through Florida Forever at the March 26, 2024 meeting of the Governor and Cabinet. The 1,342-acres property is in Polk County and within the Florida Wildlife Corridor.

Thank you to the landowner, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and Saunders Real Estate for making this acquisition possible.

Creek Ranch was used as working cattle ranch and horse farm. The property is adjacent to Lake Hatchineha and is part of the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes, part of the headwaters of the Everglades. The property will be managed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The land provides crucial habitat and connectivity for many species including gopher tortoise, caracara, the Florida scrub lizard, Florida black bear, and Florida panther.

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

Facebook tags: @Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Photos by Drew McDougall / @wildpath

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

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