North Florida Land Trust and partners have preserved more than 1,000 Acres in Putnam County

The property is located within the Ocala to Osceola, O2O, Wildlife Corridor 

Jacksonville, Fla., Sept. 25, 2025 – North Florida Land Trust (NFLT), in coordination with the Putnam Land Conservancy, The Conservation Fund, and the State of Florida, has been able to preserve a 1,086-acre property previously owned by Rayonier, Inc. The land is in Putnam County within the critical Ocala to Osceola, or O2O, wildlife corridor near the Carl Duval Moore State Forest and Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway and within the Etoniah/Cross Florida Greenway Florida Forever Project Area. The acquisition of the property from Rayonier resulted from a collaboration between the partners to ensure the land would remain natural forever.

NFLT and the Putnam Land Conservancy were working with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to fund the acquisition through the Florida Forever program. The sellers needed the purchase to happen by the close of 2024. The state indicated it could not meet that deadline and asked for help. NFLT contacted The Conservation Fund. The Conservation Fund purchased the property for $3.25 million with approximately 45 days to close and held title to the property until the State could complete the purchase. The State has now closed on the property, and The Conservation Fund officially transferred ownership to the State.

“This acquisition is an example of how entities working together can really make a difference, and now more than 1,000 acres of land in Florida will remain natural forever,” said Allison DeFoor, president and CEO of NFLT. “The Conservation Fund stepped in when needed and quickly secured the land for preservation because they also realized it was now or never. This land will never be rooftops and will remain natural habitats where wildlife and plant species can thrive.”

The property comprises forested wetlands, mixed hardwood, pine Flatwoods, sandhill, scrub, prairies and bogs, and tree plantations. It supports various plant and animal species, including threatened and endangered species like the gopher tortoise, Florida scrub-jay, sand skink, Bachman's sparrow, eastern indigo snake, and red-cockaded woodpecker. It also provides essential ecosystem services such as air and water filtration, groundwater recharge and carbon sequestration from reforestation. It can also enhance recreational activities, including hiking, biking, and nature studies.

"This is an important addition to the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway and the Florida Wildlife Corridor,” said Willy the Losen, CEO and Conservation Director of the
Putnam Land Conservancy. “It conserves the last undeveloped land abutting that portion of the Greenway. Without partnerships between conservation organizations, this property may have been lost to development."

“We are proud to have collaborated on this important conservation project,” said Adam Godfrey, Rayonier’s Vice President of Real Estate Operations and Sales. “Rayonier believes in responsible land stewardship and is committed to supporting efforts that protect Florida’s natural resources. The O2O corridor is a critical part of Florida’s ecological landscape, and we are pleased to have contributed to its preservation.”

NFLT leads the O2O Wildlife Corridor Partnership, which is dedicated to preserving land within the O2O corridor. The O2O is a 1.6-million-acre network of public and private lands that stretches 100 miles and connects the Ocala and Osceola National Forests, a critical link in the Florida Wildlife Corridor.

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. For more information, visit nflt.org.