CAMP BLANDING – North Florida Land Trust (NFLT) has expanded conservation land within the Ocala to Osceola (O2O) Wildlife Corridor by acquiring 1,109 acres in Clay and Bradford counties. This is one of the most significant single acquisitions of the nonprofit land conservation organization it will own and manage in its 25-year history.

The property is located west of the Camp Blanding Training Center, north of NFLT’s Triangle Preserve, and one mile south of the New River Conservation Area. Conserving the land protects the habitats of wildlife and plant species and provides a buffer for the military installation.

“What a great accomplishment to celebrate just before Christmas. This large piece of Florida will remain natural forever. As I always say, it is now or never,” said Allison DeFoor, president and CEO of NFLT. “There will be no bulldozers, no houses, just the plants and animals that call it home. I applaud our team for protecting the land and thank Camp Blanding for its partnership, which made the protection possible. I would also like to extend a special thanks to Delores Barr Weaver for her support of our land conservation efforts.”

NFLT purchased the property for $7,301,427 from Rayonier Forest Resources, LP, which had previously managed the land for timber production. Most 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 aerial and ground military training operations. The Delores Barr Weaver Legacy Funds at the Community Foundation of Northeast Florida also contributed $100,000 toward the purchase price. This contribution is part of a transformative $1 million grant established last year by the Delores Barr Weaver Legacy Funds to support land purchases for 10 years. This partnership underscores the critical importance of collaborative efforts in securing and protecting vital natural spaces.

The property comprises pine plantations and wetlands, offering vital ecological benefits. Protecting these lands ensures the preservation of four miles of Water Oak Creek, along with its floodplains and riverbanks, providing a natural buffer against potential flooding risks for the area and nearby Camp Blanding. This conservation effort safeguards critical habitats for diverse wildlife, including the Florida black bear, deer, and turkey, as well as threatened and endangered species such as the red-cockaded woodpecker, indigo snake, and gopher tortoise. Keeping the land undeveloped also sustains essential wildlife corridors, enabling species to migrate through the O2O Corridor – a 1.6-million-acre network of public and private lands connecting the Ocala and Osceola National Forests. This protection ensures the continued ecological health of this vital landscape for generations to come.