The 518 acres are owned by the Hoffmeister family, who purchased the property in 1968. It is located approximately a mile outside of Crescent City, nestled between Lake George and Crescent Lake. The land is home to an abundance of wildlife, including deer, turkey, gopher tortoises, wading birds and a nesting pair of bald eagles. Ecosystems within the property include oak hammocks, scrub habitat, natural and improved wetlands and two unnamed tributaries that wind toward Lake George. Nearly half of the acreage is freshwater wetlands.

The Hoffmeister family has used the land as a working cattle ranch since its purchase, and it continues to operate in that tradition today. Portions of the land are leased to local cattlemen, reinforcing the family’s commitment to sustaining Florida’s agricultural heritage. Protecting open space and preserving the natural systems that support ranching has long been central to the Hoffmeisters’ stewardship of the land.

“This property is a beautiful place, and we wanted to keep it protected and free of development so future generations of our family could enjoy and appreciate the nature, wildlife and agriculture on the property,” said Bill Hoffmeister. “We love this land and want it to remain natural forever. Placing a conservation easement on the property allows us to do our part to slow the growth of development in the O2O and protect the aquifer and the many fragile ecosystems found here.”

“The Hoffmeister property is a real gem and a critical piece of land to add to the O2O, building on the conservation areas already in place,” said Allison DeFoor, president and CEO of NFLT. “With the purchase of this conservation easement agreement, this land is protected forever and will never be rooftops. The family can continue to use the property as they have been for decades, and a piece of old Florida has been saved forever.”

The O2O spans 1.6 million acres of public and private land stretching 100 miles between the Ocala and Osceola National Forests. NFLT has made the O2O a core focus of its conservation work and, for years, has led the O2O Wildlife Corridor Partnership, a coalition of organizations committed to protecting and connecting lands throughout the critical landscape.

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.

The post North Florida Land Trust and FDEP Preserve More Than 500 Acres in the O2O Wildlife Corridor in Putnam County appeared first on North Florida Land Trust.

The easement, valued at $3,706,000, was purchased through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Rural and Family Lands Protection Program (RFLPP), with the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s (NRCS) Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) contributing $1,853,000 toward the total easement value. Delays had threatened to derail the project, but NFLT worked with its federal partners to bring it to completion.

“Sometimes projects like these need a little help from a friend, so I reached out to Congressman Aaron Bean to ask for assistance,” said Allison DeFoor, president and CEO of NFLT. “Congressman Bean and his team were able to help us move this project forward, and now there are 1,685 acres that will remain protected forever. We appreciate Congressman Bean stepping in to help and his commitment to what we do, because it is now or never.”

The property is primarily managed for silviculture, with prescribed burns used to maintain an open understory and promote a rich diversity of native plant species. Wetlands are scattered throughout the landscape, and the land provides an important riparian buffer along Cedar Creek as it winds through the tract. Wildlife management efforts support healthy populations of deer, turkey, dove, and waterfowl, and the property is also actively used for native game hunting.

Protecting the property adds another tract to the O2O, which includes 1.6 million acres of public and privately owned forested land stretching 100 miles from the Ocala National Forest to the Osceola National Forest. NFLT leads the O2O Wildlife Corridor Partnership, a group of like-minded organizations dedicated to preserving land within the O2O.

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.

The post North Florida Land Trust Facilitated the Permanent Preservation of 1,685 Acres in Baker County appeared first on North Florida Land Trust.

NFLT was instrumental in facilitating this land into conservation by bringing a majority of those involved in the process to the table and working with former Speaker of the House Paul Renner to secure funding for acquisitions within the O2O. The conservation easements allow Weyerhaeuser and Blackbottom to continue using the land as a working forest while ensuring it remains free from development forever.

“This historic conservation easement acquisition was something we started working on approximately seven years ago, when we began talks with the Weyerhaeuser Corporation,” said Allison DeFoor, president and CEO of NFLT. “To have played a role in the largest conservation easement acquisition in the state’s history is a wonderful feeling. We have now moved our total acres preserved in the state to 125,555. I congratulate the Governor and the state on bringing this across the finish line and ensuring this part of the O2O remains in its natural state forever. It is now or never.”

The Weyerhaeuser and Blackbottom conservation easements stretch and protect a critical bottleneck in the Florida Wildlife Corridor 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.

NFLT leads the O2O Wildlife Corridor Partnership, a group of like-minded organizations dedicated to preserving land within the O2O. Approximately 1.6 million acres of public and privately owned forested land stretching 100 miles from the Ocala National Forest to the Osceola National Forest, make up the O2O.

You can read the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s press release on this historic conservation win 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.

The post It’s official! More than 76,000 acres are now protected in the O2O and Florida Wildlife Corridors appeared first on North Florida Land Trust.

“The purchase of this conservation easement ensures that this property will never be developed or changed from its existing use. It is Now or Never,” said Allison DeFoor, president and CEO of NFLT. “The family will be able to continue living on and enjoying the property, while protecting its natural state. This conservation easement protects land vital to wildlife habitats and national defense. It prevents encroachment on Camp Blanding, which has been an important partner in conservation within the O2O for many years.”

The Hughes property is near NFLT’s Milam Preserve, Smith Lake Preserve, and Gold Head Branch State Park. It is the family’s primary residence and includes two homes, a horse barn, outbuildings, and cross-fencing. The conservation easement agreement allows the family to continue to live on and use the land while preventing any further development of the land or more intense uses.

“I am so happy to have found NFLT to help me preserve this beautiful property and the abundant wildlife it supports,” said landowner Erin Hughes. “My family has lived in Florida since the 1880s and I am proud to help preserve at least a piece of the natural Florida they once knew. Thank you to Kim (NFLT conservation transactions manager) and everyone who helped make this happen.”

Conserving the land protects the habitats of wildlife and plant species and provides a buffer for Camp Blanding. A blend of upland pine forest and open pastureland offers habitat for many native species, including the white-tailed deer, wild turkey, and the gopher tortoise, a protected species. It also sits on the edge of an aquifer recharge area. Protecting the land will help buffer the creek system, maintain historic recharge and discharge areas, and prevent any potential flooding to the military installation that could occur with more intense uses.

North Florida Land Trust will hold the conservation easement on these 83 acres, adding to the nonprofit’s successful conservation portfolio. Over the past 25 years, NFLT has helped protect more than 43,000 acres across Florida.

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.

The post North Florida Land Trust has preserved more than 83 acres near Camp Blanding through a Conservation Easement appeared first on North Florida Land Trust.