The Conservation Fund Permanently Protects Key Property to Strengthen Florida Wildlife Corridor

PUTNAM COUNTY, FLORIDA — Collaborative efforts to protect the Florida Wildlife Corridor just took an important step forward thanks to The Conservation Fund, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and partners. By acting quickly to protect land between Florida’s Ocala and Osceola National Forests, The Conservation Fund protected vital habitat for wildlife like the Florida black bear. 

“The Florida Wildlife Corridor is vital to sustaining Florida’s people and wildlife, and we’re thrilled to help protect this special place,” said Lauren Day, The Conservation Fund’s Florida state director. “When properties like this one come up for sale, we must act quickly to protect them from development, preserving Florida’s natural lands and way of life.” 

The property is located east of Gainesville within the Ocala-to-Osceola “O2O” Wildlife Corridor, a partnership of federal, state and private organizations, led by the North Florida Land Trust, that are working together to conserve 100 miles of natural and working lands that form a critical link in the Florida Wildlife Corridor. The Conservation Fund purchased the land from Rayonier, Inc. to save the thousand-acre property from development. The property was then transferred into public ownership through the DEP’s flagship land conservation program, Florida Forever. 

The O2O faces significant threats from development and is a top priority for the state. The Florida Legislature passed a special appropriation to support conservation in the O2O in 2023 with bipartisan support. 

“Conserving threatened landscapes in Florida takes vision, speed and resources,” said Day. “We completed this acquisition in record time in late 2024, and it truly takes a village to pull something like that off. We’re so grateful to the landowner, the Florida Forever program, the North Florida Land Trust and the Putnam Land Conservancy for their partnership on this important project.” 

“For the past 25 years, the Florida Forever Program has focused on conserving the state’s native landscapes, watersheds, agricultural and working lands, and wildlife habitats,” said Bryan Bradner, DEP Deputy Secretary for Land and Recreation. “Through cooperative partnerships, Florida Forever continues to serve as the state’s blueprint for conserving our natural resources.”  

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Media Contact: media@conservationfund.org