The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has finalized a conservation easement for the 7,514-acre Kenansville Ranch in Osceola County. This move preserves the ranch as a working cattle operation while also protecting important wildlife habitats. The property is part of the Ranch Reserve Florida Forever Project, which is recognized as a conservation priority.
Kenansville Ranch currently supports about 1,600 cattle and includes pastures, pine flatwoods, and wetlands that are fed by Wolf Creek, Tenmile Creek, and Sixmile Creek. The terms of the easement require that agricultural producers on the land follow best management practices to protect water quality and the environment.
“Conservation easements preserve Florida’s landscapes while keeping working lands productive,” said DEP Secretary Alexis A. Lambert. “By supporting agriculture, safeguarding water resources and protecting wildlife, projects like Kenansville Ranch strengthen Florida’s role in the nation’s food security and natural resource conservation.”
The ranch is located within the Florida Wildlife Corridor and serves as habitat for species such as the bald eagle, eastern indigo snake, Florida burrowing owl, red-cockaded woodpecker, and sandhill crane. It also connects to other conservation lands managed by the St. Johns River Water Management District, including Wolf Creek Ranch and Escape Ranch easements, creating a larger area for wildlife movement. The conservation easement was approved by Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet in a previous meeting.
Florida has committed more than $1.4 billion to the Florida Forever Program since 2019, with $950 million directed specifically toward the Florida Wildlife Corridor. This funding has allowed DEP to acquire over 374,000 acres for conservation during this period, with 91% of those acres located within the Wildlife Corridor. The state’s efforts through the Florida Forever Program are seen as a model for land protection initiatives nationwide, providing benefits such as water quality safeguards, habitat protection, and opportunities for outdoor recreation.
More information about the Florida Forever Program can be found at FloridaForever.org.
