Ron DeSantis, Governor of Florida, announced that the state has reached "a major milestone for the Florida Wildlife Corridor" by conserving over 78,000 acres of land. This announcement was made in a press release.
"Under my administration, Florida has significantly expanded its land conservation efforts and today's conservation is a major milestone for the Florida Wildlife Corridor," said Ronald Dion Desantis. "By prioritizing conservation, we are not only supporting our natural resources, but also our rural economies and the future of our state."
The Ocala-to-Osceola Wildlife Corridor connects the Ocala and Osceola National Forests through more than 1.6 million acres of public and private lands. According to the press release, this corridor enhances habitat connectivity, supports biodiversity, and helps sustain natural ecosystem functions essential to Florida’s environment and agriculture.
Since 2019, Florida has invested more than $1.4 billion in land conservation through the Florida Forever Program. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has acquired over 374,000 acres for conservation—approximately 90% located within the Florida Wildlife Corridor.
The June 2025 approvals include a 61,389-acre easement in Baker and Union counties, a 14,743-acre easement in Baker and Bradford counties, a 1,700-acre easement in North Florida, and a 340-acre acquisition in Hernando County. Together, these properties close the final gap in the 100-mile Ocala-to-Osceola Wildlife Corridor.
According to the National Governors Association, Ronald Dion DeSantis was born on September 14, 1978, in Jacksonville, Florida. He has been serving as the state's 46th governor since taking office in 2019. Raised in a working-class family, he excelled at Yale University where he led the baseball team before earning a law degree with honors from Harvard. His career includes service as a U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General (JAG) officer where he advised a SEAL commander in Iraq.
