FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 26, 2004
CONTACT: Leigh Ann Asklar, (850) 245-2112 

Governor and Cabinet Preserve 2,000 Acres of Natural Florida

-- Cabinet’s vote moves Apalachicola River project closer to completion--

TALLAHASSEE – A vote by Governor Jeb Bush and the Florida Cabinet today preserved more than 2,000 acres of natural Florida along the Apalachicola River. Purchased through Florida Forever, the acquisition in Calhoun County protects habitat along the longest and largest river system in the southeastern United States.

“Preserving land along the Apalachicola is a vital step toward protecting the environmental and economic value of this important waterway,” said Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Colleen M. Castille “Acquiring this natural land safeguards water quality, preserves habitat for wildlife and provides open space for recreation.”

Part of the 27,000-acre Apalachicola River Florida Forever project, the 2,124-acre parcel will be preserved through a perpetual conservation easement, allowing property owners to continue to use the land while protecting it from development. Nearly 4,500 acres of this project are now in public ownership.

The high plains, steep bluffs and deep ravines along the Apalachicola River make it one of the most diverse natural areas in the Southeastern Coastal Plain. When complete, the Florida Forever project will connect Torreya State Park with limestone glades to the north and riverbank forests to the west, protecting water quality in the river and providing scenic spots for boat launching, hiking and biking.

The 10-year, $3 billion Florida Forever program established by Governor Bush and the Florida Legislature in 1999 conserves environmentally sensitive land, restores waterways and preserves important cultural and historical resources.