Duval County benefits from $317M Florida conservation investment

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – On Tuesday, Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet approved a $317 million investment to protect Florida’s critical lands, and Duval County is among those to benefit.

A 1,265-acre acquisition will expand Cary State Forest, stretching it towards the Thomas Creek Conservation Area northwest of Jacksonville.

The property faces immediate development threats, with plans in place for 1,607 single-family homes and commercial construction, according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

“The acquisition prioritizes restoring the natural functions of the land, water and wetlands within its boundaries, including the Lower St. Johns River Basin,” FDEP told News4JAX.

This year’s State of the River report cited development as one of the rising threats to the water’s health, as the Jacksonville area continues to grow.

RELATED: 2nd annual ‘Great St. Johns River Cleanup’ kicks off in Duval County

Located in the Northeast Timberlands and Watershed Reserve, Cary State Forest is also home to rare and endangered plant and animal species such as the gopher tortoise, Florida black bear and the red-cockaded woodpecker.

“Preserving this land will help alleviate development pressures and protect vital natural resources,” FDEP said.

Through the Florida Forever Program, $111 million of the investment will secure 24,113 acres of critical lands. The Cary State Forest expansion is just one of seven key acquisitions that will connect vital conservation areas throughout Florida:

• A 12,243-acre acquisition within the Bear Creek Forest in Bay County will create a new state forest.
• A 5,910-acre conservation easement within the Coastal Headwaters Longleaf in Santa Rosa County will preserve working forest lands and protect the Escambia River watershed.
• A 2,483-acre acquisition within the Upper Shoal River in Walton County will create a new state park.
• A 1,335-acre acquisition within the Volusia Conservation Corridor in Volusia County will contribute to a conservation corridor extending from Deep Creek Preserve in the Ocala National Forest south to Fort Drum Marsh.
• A 764-acre conservation easement within the Green Swamp in Polk County, located just one mile from the newly constructed I-4 wildlife crossing, will provide a buffer from nearby public infrastructure and strengthen connections between surrounding conservation lands.
• A 113-acre acquisition within the Catfish Creek in Polk County will expand Allen David Broussard Catfish Creek Preserve State Park, adding over 6,000 feet of frontage along Lake Pierce.

MORE: FDEP pulls all controversial development plans for Florida state parks, says it will possibly revisit next year

The remainder of the investment was approved to preserve over 62,000 acres of Florida farms and ranches through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Rural and Family Lands Protection Program.