BRADFORD COUNTY, Fla. – North Florida Land Trust has expanded the Ocala to Osceola Wildlife Corridor by acquiring 1,109 acres in Bradford County.
This marks the nonprofit’s largest single acquisition in its 25-year history.
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“What a great accomplishment to celebrate just before Christmas that this large piece of Florida will remain natural forever. As I always say, it is now or never,” Allison DeFoor, president and CEO of NFLT said. “There will be no bulldozers, no houses, just the plants and animals that call it home.”
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The conservation effort safeguards vital habitats for a variety of wildlife, including the Florida black bear, deer, and turkey. It also provides protection for threatened and endangered species such as the red-cockaded woodpecker, indigo snake and gopher tortoise.
NFLT purchased the property for $7,301,427 from Rayonier Forest Resources, LP, which had previously managed the land for timber production.
A large portion of the acquisition was funded through the Department of Defense’s Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) program and the Army Compatible Use Buffer (ACUB) program. These initiatives are dedicated to preserving land surrounding Camp Blanding to ensure it remains compatible with military training operations.
The Delores Barr Weaver Legacy Funds at the Community Foundation of Northeast Florida also contributed $100,000 toward the purchase.
“I applaud our team for protecting the land and thank Camp Blanding for its partnership, which made the protection possible,” DeFoor said. “I would also like to extend a special thanks to Delores Barr Weaver for her support of our land conservation efforts.”
The contribution is part of a $1 million grant established last year by the Delores Barr Weaver Legacy Funds to support conservation land purchases over a ten-year period.
