Commissioner Wilton Simpson Announces Permanent Protection of Nearly 2,600 Acres of Working Timberland

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Today, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced the permanent protection of nearly 2,600 acres of working Florida agricultural land through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services' Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. Rural lands protection easements prevent future development of the land and allow agriculture operations to continue to contribute to Florida's economy and the production of food, timber, and other resources vital to the prosperity of Florida.

"Florida's working agricultural lands are part of our heritage, and it's our responsibility to protect them," said Commissioner Wilton Simpson. "I am proud to announce another win for Florida through our Rural and Family Lands Protection Program today. We are permanently protecting nearly 2,600 acres of productive timberland to ensure it stays in private hands and continues working for Florida families. These easements protect private property rights, keep government from owning and managing more land, and ensure Florida families can continue producing the food, fiber, wildlife habitat, and economic opportunity that fuel our state."

Since its inception, the department's Rural and Family Lands Protection Program has permanently preserved approximately 230,000 acres of working agricultural land, with approximately 165,000 acres preserved during Commissioner Simpson's administration.

The properties are enrolled in FDACS Best Management Practices and are located within the Florida Wildlife Corridor, which was established in state law in 2021 through the Florida Wildlife Corridor Act as a priority of then-Senate President Wilton Simpson.

Thayendanegea Timber

Thayendanegea Timber, an approximately 1,685-acre timber property in Baker County, Florida, has been permanently preserved from development through a rural lands protection easement, totaling $3,706,000, with $1,853,000 being provided through the Natural Resources Conservation Service's Regional Conservation Partnership Program. The property is located near the Osceola National Forest and Osceola Wildlife Management Area. The primary agricultural practice on the property is silviculture. Prescribed fire is used to manage the understory, resulting in a high diversity of native flora. The property is interspersed with wetlands and provides a riparian buffer to Cedar Creek, which runs through it. In addition to silviculture, the property is managed to increase productivity of deer, turkey, dove, and waterfowl, allowing for native game hunting.

Land West Holdings

Land West Holdings, an approximately 910-acre timberland operation in Gilchrist County, Florida, has been permanently preserved from development through two separate rural lands protection easements, totaling $2,408,000, with $525,250 being provided through the Natural Resources Conservation Service's Regional Conservation Partnership Program. The project supports a mixture of pine plantations - nearly all of the original uplands - and encompassed scattered wetlands. Just over half of the site is in typical pine plantation of variable stand age with the remaining portion consisting of a series of large basin marsh wetlands which are connected by forested basin swamps of mature cypress and wetland hardwoods.

About the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program

Established in 2001 with the passage of the Rural and Family Lands Protection Act, the program recognizes that working agricultural lands are essential to Florida's economic future. Agricultural lands are being increasingly threatened by urban development. To counter this trend, the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program partners with farmers and ranchers to ensure sustainable production practices while protecting natural resources.

Rural lands protection easements prevent future development of the land and allow agricultural operations to continue contributing to Florida's economy and the production of food, timber, and other resources vital to the state's prosperity. Additionally, by purchasing development rights through a rural lands protection easement, the program does not impose an additional burden on the taxpayer by having to maintain state-owned lands.

Since 2022, Commissioner Simpson has helped to secure more than $700 million in state funding for the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, including $250 million in the 2025/2026 state budget.

Commissioner Simpson has been involved in Florida's land conservation policy issues long before becoming Florida's Commissioner of Agriculture. As Senate President, Commissioner Simpson championed the successful passage of the Florida Wildlife Corridor Act, which directed the state of Florida to better protect and connect Florida's natural areas and wildlife habitats and to preserve working agricultural lands from future development.

A story map of all completed Rural and Family Lands Protection Program projects can be viewed here: FDACS.gov/RFLPPMap.

For more information about Commissioner Simpson and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, visit FDACS.gov.

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