TALLAHASSEE, FL — The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has secured a conservation easement covering approximately 10,023 acres in Gulf County within the Northwest Florida Sentinel Landscape, according to a recent announcement.
The acquisition is intended to maintain compatible land use near nine military installations and training ranges in the region while preserving working forests and natural resources amid ongoing development pressures.
State officials said Florida is among a limited number of states with multiple federally designated Sentinel Landscapes and is tied for the highest number nationwide. Conservation efforts in Northwest Florida and the Avon Park Air Force Range region have expanded partnerships among state, federal and private entities focused on supporting military readiness, rural economies and environmental protection.
Since its designation in 2022, more than 83,000 acres have been protected within the Northwest Florida Sentinel Landscape. Recent additions include Shoal River Headwaters State Park, Sandy Creek State Forest and Telogia Creek Wildlife Management Area.
Outside of Northwest Florida, nearly 35,000 acres have been conserved within the Avon Park Air Force Range Sentinel Landscape, located between Orlando and Lake Okeechobee. An additional 25,000 acres have been protected through a partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense’s Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration Program.
Through the Florida Forever Program, the state has committed more than $1.5 billion since 2019, acquiring over 500,000 acres for conservation, including 55% through conservation easements.
SOURCE: FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION
