Florida OKs conservation area swap

Florida wildlife officials have agreed to swap 60 acres of conservation land in exchange for 1,550 acres of neighboring conservation land easements to make way for a toll road. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will receive $23.9 million to manage the new lands and $1.25 million for improvements and amenities at the Split Oak Forest Wildlife and Environmental Area in Osceola County.

“While it is never simple to consider releasing conservation land, I am proud of the major conservation gains we’ve secured in exchange,” said FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto.

The Central Florida Expressway Authority is planning a 9-mile tollway through the forest.

Jointly owned by orange and Osceola counties, the 1,689-acre Split Oak Forest WEA is managed to conserve gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus).

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