Florida protects habitats of listed species on massive ranch

Florida has expanded a key section of its wildlife corridor, vital for species like the eastern indigo snake and red-cockaded woodpecker, by granting easement funds to a working cattle ranch, allowing the land to be conserved while remaining in agricultural use.

The 7,514-acre Kenansville Ranch, located within the Florida Wildlife Corridor in Osceola County south of Orlando, supports a range of rare and endangered species, including the bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), eastern indigo snake (Drymarchon couperi), Florida burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia floridana), red-cockaded woodpecker (Leuconotopicus borealis), and sandhill crane (Antigone canadensis). The easement helps the land to remain in agricultural use, maintaining its role as a working cattle ranch. The easement comes with the condition that landowners must follow best management practices that protect water quality and promote environmental stewardship. The easement conserves critical habitat and enhances landscape connectivity by linking other nearby conservation easements.   

“Conservation easements preserve Florida’s landscapes while keeping working lands productive,” said DEP Secretary Alexis Lambert.

This protection effort is part of Florida Forever, one of the nation’s largest conservation programs, which has invested $3.8 billion since 2001 to help conserve over 1 million acres across the state.

Read more at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.