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Southern Forests Conservation Project
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The Nature Conservancy and International Paper have undertaken a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to protect ecologically important forests, rivers and streams in 10 southern states. The Nature Conservancy will acquire more than 218,000 acres in the largest private conservation project in the history of the southern United States. Partners include state governments, federal agencies, and timber investment entities.
Total Protected Area in Florida: 23,046 acres
- Yellow River Ravines: 11,313 acres
- Gulf Coast Plain Ecosystem Partnership: 11,528 acres
- Whiting Field/Blackwater Heritage Trail: 205 acres
River and Stream Miles Protected
Approximately 30 miles of stream & creek area protected.
Representative Species
- Florida black bear
- Red-cockaded woodpecker
- Tiger salamander
- Eastern indigo snake
- Panhandle lily
- Yellow fringeless orchid
- Florida pine snake
Project Partners
- The Nature Conservancy
- Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Division of Forestry (DOF)
- Florida Dept. of Environmental Protection
- Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund of the State of Florida (state)
- Conservation Forestry, LLC and its consortium partner, Forest Investment Associates
Florida Forests
The Nature Conservancy has been working for many years to secure permanent protection of these areas which represent remnants of the historic 60 million-acre longleaf pine ecosystem and vibrant areas of diversity in Florida.
Yellow River Ravines: 11,313 Acres
The Yellow River Ravines project is the connector between two of Florida’s outstanding natural areas, Eglin Air Force Base and Blackwater River State Forest. The project will form a protected landscape of more than 800,000 acres, from the Gulf of Mexico through Eglin Air Force Base and Blackwater River State Forest into Conecuh National Forest in Alabama.
Yellow River Ravines is an “A” ranked Florida Forever Program project, located in Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties. There are three steephead ravine systems within the project that flow into the Yellow River that ultimately feeds into Blackwater Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. The project will provide important habitat for Florida black bear, red-cockaded woodpeckers and rare species found in the ravines. The project will be managed by DOF as an addition to Blackwater River State Forest and will provide an opportunity for long-term restoration to the original longleaf pine community type, of which only two percent remains in the world.
In addition, Yellow River Ravines is adjacent to two military installations, Eglin Air Force Base and Navy Outlying Landing Field — Harold. Acquisition will assist in buffering the bases from incompatible uses and help to allow the missions of both the base and the field to continue.
Gulf Coast Plain Ecosystem Partnership (GCPEP): 11,528 Acres
This project connects Blackwater River State Forest and Whiting Field Naval Air Station in Santa Rosa County. It includes a section of Coldwater Creek, a sand-bottomed, clearwater creek with a relatively unaltered floodplain and fed by numerous small seepage streams. Coldwater Creek is a tributary of the Blackwater River, which ultimately flows into Blackwater Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. The project will protect six miles of outstanding state-designated canoe trail, often cited as the best in the state.
A large portion of the project will likely be an addition to Blackwater River State Forest, probably the premier state forest in Florida. The site includes 1,160 acres of a Florida Forever “A” ranked project. As a connector between Blackwater River State Forest and Whiting Field Naval Air Station, the project area will provide additional habitat for wide-ranging species such as the Florida black bear and various waterfowl and bird species.
All Navy helicopter pilots train at Whiting Field, which is also a major training facility for fixed-wing pilots. Acquisition will assist in buffering the base from incompatible uses and protect from encroachment.
A timber investment entity will continue to manage a portion of the project as a working forest until such time as it can be purchased by the state or by The Nature Conservancy.
Whiting Field/Blackwater Heritage Trail: 205 acres
Two 100-acre (approximately) parcels adjacent to Whiting Field Naval Air Station will be acquired by The Nature Conservancy and sold to the Florida Office of Greenways and Trails (OGT). The two tracts will be the first purchases as part of OGT’s Blackwater Heritage Trail/Coldwater Creek/Whiting Field Trail and Buffer Project. The route will surround the base and expand recreational opportunities already available on an existing trail.
For More Information
The Nature Conservancy in Florida
Working with partners, local communities, and people like you, The Nature Conservancy has protected more than 1.1 million acres of critical natural habitat in Florida.
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