Florida Forever Marks 25 Years with Largest Conservation Easement in Program History

Florida Department of Environmental Protection sent this bulletin at 02/17/2026 10:55 AM EST
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| ## FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Feb. 17, 2026
CONTACT: DEP Press Office, 850-245-2112, DEPNews@FloridaDEP.gov

Florida Forever Marks 25 Years with Largest

Conservation Easement in Program History

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Raiford to Osceola Greenway Florida Forever Project \| Photo by Lauren Yoho/Wildpath

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – As Florida Forever marks 25 years of conserving the state’s most important natural landscapes, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has secured the largest conservation easement in the program’s history, permanently protecting 61,525 acres of working forestland within the Ocala-to-Osceola Wildlife Corridor in Baker and Union counties.

This conservation easement preserves a vast, intact landscape that connects Camp Blanding Military Reservation, the Raiford Wildlife Management Area and Osceola National Forest, closing the final major gap in a nearly 100-mile, 1.6-million-acre network of public and private conservation lands between the Ocala and Osceola national forests.

“Florida Forever was created to protect landscapes like this one,” said DEP Secretary Alexis A. Lambert. “Conserving this single-owner tract in perpetuity strengthens landscape-scale connectivity while allowing the land to remain in active forest management that supports the local economy.”

The property protects forested wetlands, floodplain forests, basin swamps and headwaters, supporting water quality, flood protection and aquifer recharge across three major river basins, which are increasingly important as communities in the region continue to grow. The property also lies within the Florida Wildlife Corridor, providing permanent habitat connectivity for wide-ranging and imperiled species, including the bald eagle, red-cockaded woodpecker and eastern indigo snake.

The conservation easement was acquired from Weyerhaeuser, one of the nation’s largest private timberland owners, and the property has been managed as working forestland for decades. It was approved by Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet during a previous Cabinet meeting.

“This is a simply tremendous outcome for everyone involved,” said Alex Littlejohn, Director of Conservation for Weyerhaeuser. “Environmental stewardship is fundamental to our operations, and this conservation easement was a unique opportunity to support wildlife habitat and connectivity at a huge scale while also continuing to support the local forest economy. This is one of the largest conservation projects we have ever delivered, and we want to thank all our partners — including state leadership and DEP — for helping secure an agreement that will benefit Floridians for many years to come.”

Florida is at the forefront of the nation’s land protection efforts and continues to be a model for other land acquisition programs across the country. Through the Florida Forever Program, the state conserves land that provides environmental, recreational and preservation benefits, including water quality and quantity safeguards; resilience from storm impacts; habitat and species protections; national security; and outdoor recreation opportunities.

As part of the Floridians First Budget for Fiscal Year 2026–27, Governor DeSantis has recommended $115 million for the Florida Forever Program to continue conserving Florida’s most important lands for future generations.

For more information about the Florida Forever Program, visit FloridaForever.org.

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| ## About the Florida Department of Environmental Protection

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is the state’s principal environmental agency, created to protect, conserve and manage Florida’s environment and natural resources. The department enforces federal and state environmental laws, protects Florida’s air and water quality, cleans up pollution, regulates solid waste management, promotes pollution prevention and acquires environmentally sensitive lands for preservation. The agency also maintains a statewide system of parks, trails and aquatic preserves. Visit the department’s website at FloridaDEP.gov.

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/FLDEP/bulletins/40a32c8 | | | | ## FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Feb. 17, 2026

CONTACT: DEP Press Office, 850-245-2112, DEPNews@FloridaDEP.gov

Florida Forever Marks 25 Years with Largest

Conservation Easement in Program History

| |
Raiford to Osceola Greenway Florida Forever Project | Photo by Lauren Yoho/Wildpath

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – As Florida Forever marks 25 years of conserving the state’s most important natural landscapes, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has secured the largest conservation easement in the program’s history, permanently protecting 61,525 acres of working forestland within the Ocala-to-Osceola Wildlife Corridor in Baker and Union counties.

This conservation easement preserves a vast, intact landscape that connects Camp Blanding Military Reservation, the Raiford Wildlife Management Area and Osceola National Forest, closing the final major gap in a nearly 100-mile, 1.6-million-acre network of public and private conservation lands between the Ocala and Osceola national forests.

“Florida Forever was created to protect landscapes like this one,” said DEP Secretary Alexis A. Lambert. “Conserving this single-owner tract in perpetuity strengthens landscape-scale connectivity while allowing the land to remain in active forest management that supports the local economy.”

The property protects forested wetlands, floodplain forests, basin swamps and headwaters, supporting water quality, flood protection and aquifer recharge across three major river basins, which are increasingly important as communities in the region continue to grow. The property also lies within the Florida Wildlife Corridor, providing permanent habitat connectivity for wide-ranging and imperiled species, including the bald eagle, red-cockaded woodpecker and eastern indigo snake.

The conservation easement was acquired from Weyerhaeuser, one of the nation’s largest private timberland owners, and the property has been managed as working forestland for decades. It was approved by Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet during a previous Cabinet meeting.

“This is a simply tremendous outcome for everyone involved,” said Alex Littlejohn, Director of Conservation for Weyerhaeuser. “Environmental stewardship is fundamental to our operations, and this conservation easement was a unique opportunity to support wildlife habitat and connectivity at a huge scale while also continuing to support the local forest economy. This is one of the largest conservation projects we have ever delivered, and we want to thank all our partners — including state leadership and DEP — for helping secure an agreement that will benefit Floridians for many years to come.”

Florida is at the forefront of the nation’s land protection efforts and continues to be a model for other land acquisition programs across the country. Through the Florida Forever Program, the state conserves land that provides environmental, recreational and preservation benefits, including water quality and quantity safeguards; resilience from storm impacts; habitat and species protections; national security; and outdoor recreation opportunities.

As part of the Floridians First Budget for Fiscal Year 2026–27, Governor DeSantis has recommended $115 million for the Florida Forever Program to continue conserving Florida’s most important lands for future generations.

For more information about the Florida Forever Program, visit FloridaForever.org.

| | ## About the Florida Department of Environmental Protection

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is the state’s principal environmental agency, created to protect, conserve and manage Florida’s environment and natural resources. The department enforces federal and state environmental laws, protects Florida’s air and water quality, cleans up pollution, regulates solid waste management, promotes pollution prevention and acquires environmentally sensitive lands for preservation. The agency also maintains a statewide system of parks, trails and aquatic preserves. Visit the department’s website at FloridaDEP.gov.

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/FLDEP/bulletins/40a32c8 |

| | | | | |
| ## FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Feb. 17, 2026
CONTACT: DEP Press Office, 850-245-2112, DEPNews@FloridaDEP.gov

Florida Forever Marks 25 Years with Largest

Conservation Easement in Program History

| |
Raiford to Osceola Greenway Florida Forever Project | Photo by Lauren Yoho/Wildpath

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – As Florida Forever marks 25 years of conserving the state’s most important natural landscapes, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has secured the largest conservation easement in the program’s history, permanently protecting 61,525 acres of working forestland within the Ocala-to-Osceola Wildlife Corridor in Baker and Union counties.

This conservation easement preserves a vast, intact landscape that connects Camp Blanding Military Reservation, the Raiford Wildlife Management Area and Osceola National Forest, closing the final major gap in a nearly 100-mile, 1.6-million-acre network of public and private conservation lands between the Ocala and Osceola national forests.

“Florida Forever was created to protect landscapes like this one,” said DEP Secretary Alexis A. Lambert. “Conserving this single-owner tract in perpetuity strengthens landscape-scale connectivity while allowing the land to remain in active forest management that supports the local economy.”

The property protects forested wetlands, floodplain forests, basin swamps and headwaters, supporting water quality, flood protection and aquifer recharge across three major river basins, which are increasingly important as communities in the region continue to grow. The property also lies within the Florida Wildlife Corridor, providing permanent habitat connectivity for wide-ranging and imperiled species, including the bald eagle, red-cockaded woodpecker and eastern indigo snake.

The conservation easement was acquired from Weyerhaeuser, one of the nation’s largest private timberland owners, and the property has been managed as working forestland for decades. It was approved by Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet during a previous Cabinet meeting.

“This is a simply tremendous outcome for everyone involved,” said Alex Littlejohn, Director of Conservation for Weyerhaeuser. “Environmental stewardship is fundamental to our operations, and this conservation easement was a unique opportunity to support wildlife habitat and connectivity at a huge scale while also continuing to support the local forest economy. This is one of the largest conservation projects we have ever delivered, and we want to thank all our partners — including state leadership and DEP — for helping secure an agreement that will benefit Floridians for many years to come.”

Florida is at the forefront of the nation’s land protection efforts and continues to be a model for other land acquisition programs across the country. Through the Florida Forever Program, the state conserves land that provides environmental, recreational and preservation benefits, including water quality and quantity safeguards; resilience from storm impacts; habitat and species protections; national security; and outdoor recreation opportunities.

As part of the Floridians First Budget for Fiscal Year 2026–27, Governor DeSantis has recommended $115 million for the Florida Forever Program to continue conserving Florida’s most important lands for future generations.

For more information about the Florida Forever Program, visit FloridaForever.org.

| | | | |

| | | | | |
| ## About the Florida Department of Environmental Protection

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is the state’s principal environmental agency, created to protect, conserve and manage Florida’s environment and natural resources. The department enforces federal and state environmental laws, protects Florida’s air and water quality, cleans up pollution, regulates solid waste management, promotes pollution prevention and acquires environmentally sensitive lands for preservation. The agency also maintains a statewide system of parks, trails and aquatic preserves. Visit the department’s website at FloridaDEP.gov.

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/FLDEP/bulletins/40a32c8 | | | | |

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