Florida Forest Protected for Manatee Migration and Threatened Wood Stork

Without conservation action, the property was at risk of fragmentation and development, which could have increased pollution and threatened nearby waterways. Instead, the protected forest will continue filtering runoff, stabilizing soil, and supporting the ecosystems that manatees, oysters, and coastal communities rely on.  

Lake Wimico Forest also supports local communities through sustainable timber harvesting. Maintaining the land as a working forest through our Working Forest program protects both wildlife and local livelihoods while preserving the natural systems that feed into Apalachicola Bay — a vital estuary that is reopening to wild oyster harvesting for the first time in five years. 

This project marks a significant milestone for The Conservation Fund, which has now conserved more than 200,000 acres of land and water in Florida since 1985. Recent efforts include protecting key stretches of the Florida Wildlife Corridor, sea turtle habitat on the Atlantic coast, historic sites, and the headwaters of Loxahatchee and St. Lucie Rivers. Protecting key lands across Florida is essential to maintaining clean water, resilient wildlife habitat, and the working landscapes that support communities. 

This project was made possible with support from Florida Forever and the Richard King Mellon Foundation.