FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Aug. 16, 2017
Governor and Cabinet Approve Florida
Forever Acquisition of Nearly 2,000 Acres to Preserve Rare Habitat in Central
Florida
~$4.2 million acquisition in Okeechobee County is part of a multi-agency effort to protect property within the Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge~
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Governor Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet members
approved the purchase of 1,992 acres within the Triple Diamond Florida Forever
Project in Okeechobee County for $4.2 million. This acquisition will help protect wildlife habitat and water-quality, while providing opportunities for recreation.
This project
represents a successful public/non-profit partnership and a multi-agency effort
to protect property within the Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge. This acquisition was
facilitated by DEP in coordination with the Open Space Institute, whose efforts
were instrumental in achieving this significant purchase.
“This acquisition is a great example of partners from the
public and private sectors working together toward our shared goal of
environmental protection,” said DEP Secretary Noah Valenstein. “I'm grateful to
all of the partners who came together to make this acquisition a reality."
The property is
located within the Triple Diamond Florida Forever project, ranked number 8 in
the Florida Forever Critical Natural Lands project category. With today's
acquisition, more than 50 percent of this project has been acquired by the
state of Florida and, once completed, will contribute to a large, contiguous protection area of more than 200,000 acres.
The property will be
managed by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Florida Forest
Service as a working ranchland, with an emphasis on protecting and maintaining
native species.
“With over 1,000 people moving to Florida every day, we must
continue to prioritize the conservation of our world-renowned natural spaces,”
said Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam. “With today’s conservation of
Triple Diamond ranch, we’re able to preserve this invaluable piece of our rural
economy and its environment benefits in a cost-effective way.”
“We
are thrilled to partner with Florida and the many local partners to protect and
preserve this property for future generations,” said OSI President and Chief
Executive Officer Kim Elliman. “This acquisition will build and expand an
impressive network of conservation lands that will protect water quality,
wildlife habitat and expand public recreational areas in this nationally
significant and unique landscape.”
“The Triple Diamond Ranch has
rare high-quality native prairie that it has been well managed to benefit birds
and other wildlife. This is a terrific purchase and addition to Florida’s
conservation lands. We commend the Florida Department of Environmental
Protection for prioritizing and purchasing this important parcel,” said Audubon
Florida Executive Director Eric Draper.
“The Conservancy applauds this acquisition, which will
protect nearly 2,000 acres of high-quality habitat with a renowned suite of
rare vertebrate life, globally imperiled natural communities and significant
hydrological values,” said Lindsay Stevens, Land Program Manager for the Nature
Conservancy.
"The fee-simple acquisition of this quarter of the Triple Diamond Florida Forever project area will help conserve a hub of more than 200,000 acres critical to wildlife which includes Kissimmee River Preserve State Park, the restored Kissimmee River floodplain, Bombing Range Ridge and the Fort Drum Marsh and Blue Cypress conservation areas," said Kent Wimmer, Northwest Florida representative, Defenders of Wildlife. "We look forward to continuing to work with the Department of Environmental Protection, the Florida Forest Service, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and others to conserve habitat for imperiled species and the Florida Ecological Greenways Network."
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