FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 7, 2004
CONTACT: Leigh Ann Asklar, (850) 245-2112

Florida Adds 9,000 Acres to Natural Land Corridor

--Purchase better protects wildlife, expands outdoor recreation--

VOLUSIA COUNTY – Governor Jeb Bush and the Florida Cabinet today unanimously agreed to add 9,000 acres to a natural land corridor stretching from the marshes of the St. Johns River to Tiger Bay State Forest. The State has already preserved more than 23,000 acres of the Volusia Conservation Corridor in partnership with the St. Johns River Water Management District and Volusia County.

“Partnering with local governments enables the State to conserve and protect more land,” said Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Colleen M. Castille. “This partnership strengthens protection for Florida’s natural resources and provides an affordable way to preserve three times the land for future generations.”

The 9,013 acre acquisition is part of a larger 18,691 acre conservation easement negotiated by the St. Johns Water Management District. The parcel is within the Volusia Conservation Corridor Florida Forever project, which preserves low-lying flatwoods, swamp, indigenous plants and endangered animals, including the Florida black bear, bald eagle and wading birds. With more than 23,000 acres already in public ownership, visitors can hike, bike, horseback ride, camp and observe rare wildlife.

When complete, the 33,625-acre tract will span Volusia and Flagler counties, linking the Tiger Bay State Forest to the east with the Heart Island Conservation Area to the north.

The 10-year, $3 billion Florida Forever program established by Governor Bush and the Florida Legislature conserves environmentally sensitive land, restores waterways and preserves important cultural and historical resources.