The Florida Department of Environmental Protection acquired a conservation easement on 2,974 acres in Putnam County adjacent to Little Orange Creek Nature Park, permanently protecting the land’s natural resources.

The easement acquisition happened through the state’s Florida Forever program, and Putnam Land Conservancy, a local nonprofit land trust, facilitated the arrangement.

Florida’s Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund approved $5.45 million at a meeting in September 2025 for the easement. According to the agenda, the property ranked number 18 in the Florida Forever Partnerships and Regional Incentives list.

That agenda item was bundled with seven other easements totaling $167 million.

A Wednesday press release said the land will link Ocala National Forest to the south with Osceola National Forest to the north.

“By filling an important gap in the regional conservation network, the project strengthens wildlife movement and ecological resilience across northeast Florida,” the release said.

One benefit of the acquisition will be protecting water quality in Little Orange Creek which feeds into the Ocklawaha River, the release said. The private landowner continues to restore longleaf pine sandhill habitat to revive local wildlife.

“This conservation project permanently protects lands that are essential for wildlife habitat and connectivity, clean water, and sustainable land use in our region,” said Willy the Losen, director of Putnam Land Conservancy. “We thank the landowners for their cooperation and persistence, and the FDEP staff for making this happen.”