Jacksonville, Fla., June 10, 2025 – North Florida Land Trust (NFLT) is celebrating a huge win for conservation today as Governor Ron DeSantis and the Cabinet approved the strategic acquisition of more than 78,000 acres of conservation lands, including over 76,000 within the Ocala to Osceola (O2O) Wildlife Corridor. NFLT, which leads the O2O Wildlife Corridor Partnership, played several key roles. It brought a majority of those involved in the process to the table, worked with the previous Speaker of the House Paul Renner to secure additional funding for the O2O, largely based on this project, and remained vigilant in its work to preserve these natural spaces. The O2O is 1.6 million acres of public and privately owned forested land that stretches 100 miles from the Ocala National Forest to the Osceola National Forest.
The biggest conservation project encompasses a more than 61,0000-acre conversation easement that is a working forest in Baker and Union counties in the core of the O2O. It stretches from the Raiford Wildlife Management Area to the Osceola National Forest.
Protecting the land secures a contiguous landscape for a wide range of species, including the Florida black bear, and helps safeguard significant aquifer recharge, wetland habitats and rural forestry economies. The second largest conservation easement is over 14,000 acres in Baker and Bradford counties, also within the O2O that connects to Jennings State Forest and Camp Blanding Military Training Center.
“This is a truly historic pair of acquisitions, not only in size but they are the key pieces in the O2O Wildlife Corridor,” said Allison DeFoor, NFLT president and CEO. “The only appropriate response is a big thank you to Governor DeSantis, the Cabinet and Legislature for their leadership and the landowners for their vision and willingness. This will both protect the environment and keep the land in agriculture. We were honored to assist, and ready for more. Now or Never.”
NFLT has been instrumental in seeking and gaining funding for land preservation within the O2O and throughout the State. Through the years, NFLT leaders have met with legislators to advocate funding for conservation in Florida and in 2023, the legislature allocated $400 million dedicated to conservation.
DeFoor added, “This could not have been possible without former Florida House Speaker Paul Renner and former Florida Senator Rob Bradley. When we met with Paul during his tenure to express the importance of this specific project in the O2O corridor and its importance to North Florida, he took the lead in securing $400 million in funding for the O2O wildlife corridor and defending it. Rob has also been a long-time supporter of conservation in Florida and was quietly pivotal in this success.”
With today’s move by the Governor and Cabinet, the land protected in North Florida has now reached more than 100,000 acres.
The press release from the Governor’s Office, can be viewed here. And additional comments from environmental leaders can be found here.
About North Florida Land Trust
North Florida Land Trust is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to preserving and enhancing quality of life by protecting North Florida's irreplaceable natural environment. Founded in 1999, NFLT has preserved tens of thousands of acres of land through the donation or purchase of land as well as conservation easements. NFLT is funded largely by private and corporate contributions and works closely with willing landowners and public agencies at all levels of government, not-for-profit partners, and foundations. For more information, visit nflt.org.