North Florida Land Trust (NFLT), with support from The Nature Conservancy and the EJK Foundation, has purchased a conservation easement on 162.74 acres in Putnam County. Funding for the due diligence associated with the project was provided by the Partnership for Gulf Coast Land Conservation. Located within a preservation priority area, the property is surrounded on three sides by the Marjorie Harris Cross Florida Greenway and fills a critical gap in the Etoniah/Cross Florida Greenway Florida Forever Project Area.
NFLT and its partners purchased the conservation easement for $400,000 from the Currie family, who have owned the land for six years and used it for hunting and outdoor recreation. During their ownership, the family improved the land through conservation-minded management practices, including prescribed burning, that strengthened its natural communities and wildlife habitat.
“The Currie family have been great stewards of the land, and their dedication to preservation is wonderful to see,” said Allison DeFoor, president and CEO of NFLT. “It has been a pleasure to work with these willing landowners on this conservation agreement. Now this land will be preserved forever, and the Currie children can show their future families what old Florida looks like. Conservation is a collaborative effort and we are deeply grateful to the EJK Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, and the Partnership for Gulf Coast Land Conservation, whose support made this conservation easement possible.”
The Currie conservation easement protects working and recreational land with valuable wetlands and habitat for a variety of wildlife, including the gopher tortoise, an important keystone species in Florida’s ecosystems. The agreement also helps support water quality and preserve the region’s rural landscape.
“Congratulations to NFLT and the Currie family for their foresight in protecting this property, which enhances the natural connections within the regional landscape and safeguards its high-value biodiversity,” said Greg Knecht, Executive Director of The Nature Conservancy in Florida. “The Nature Conservancy is proud to have provided support for this important project.”
“Conserving this property is our family’s way of giving back,” said Tommy Currie. “We have been fortunate to enjoy this land, and we believe it is our responsibility to ensure that its forests, wetlands, and wildlife remain protected for generations to come. We’re honored to partner with the North Florida Land Trust in preserving a small but meaningful part of Florida’s natural heritage.”
NFLT will hold and steward the conservation easement, allowing the Currie family to continue using the land for recreation while ensuring its conservation values remain protected forever. The easement creates a lasting conservation legacy for wildlife, natural resources and future generations of Floridians.
About North Florida Land Trust
North Florida Land Trust is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to preserving and enhancing the 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.
