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

Panther Glades Gains Added Protection

--565-acre acquisition preserves wildlife habitat—

EVERGLADES – Natural Florida today received additional protection when Governor Jeb Bush and the Florida Cabinet approved the purchase of 565 acres bordering America’s Everglades. Purchased through Florida Forever, the acquisition conserves large expanses of habitat for roaming wildife like the Florida panther.

“Creating continuous natural corridors is critical for safeguarding Florida’s diverse ecosystems that support threatened and endangered wildlife,” said Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Colleen M. Castille. “This purchase also preserves land buffering the Everglades and increases protection for the famed River of Grass.”

Part of the 57,000-acre Panther Glades Florida Forever project, the 565-acre parcel will be preserved through a perpetual conservation easement, which allows property owners to continue to use the land while protecting it from development. More than 25,000 acres of the conservation project are currently in public ownership.

Located in Hendry County, the large watery landscape adjoins the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation and includes portions of the Big Cypress and Kissimmee Billy Strand. The mosaic of forested uplands and wetlands supports a variety of birdlife, including the crested caracara, great egret and tri-colored heron, and provides nature-based recreation opportunities such as hiking, camping, fishing and trail riding.

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.