The Nature Conservancy Transfers 555 Acres in Blackwater State Forest to Division of Forestry

17,045-acre Yellow River Ravines Florida Forever Project nearly complete.

Altamonte Springs, Florida — August 7, 2009 — The Nature Conservancy transferred three parcels totaling 555 acres within Blackwater River State Forest in Santa Rosa County to the Florida Division of Forestry (DOF) today, nearly completing the Yellow River Ravines Florida Forever Project. To date, 15,784 acres have been acquired by the state in this project area, leaving roughly 1,200 acres left to be acquired. However, the ability of the state to finish conservation work it started is in jeopardy because of the failure to fund Florida Forever for the first time in 20 years during the last legislative session.

The area provides important habitat for Florida black bear, red-cockaded woodpeckers and rare species found in the ravines. The parcels will allow for the restoration of longleaf pine habitat – a forest system that once covered the southeast now less than 3 percent of its original range. Three steephead ravine systems within the project area flow into the Yellow River that ultimately feeds into Blackwater Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. Steephead streams and ravines are among the rarest of freshwater habitats. The Nature Conservancy has worked since 1996 to assist the state with protecting the pristine Yellow River and has helped protect nearly 20,000 acres in and adjacent to the Yellow River Ravines project area.

“The Nature Conservancy appreciates the important work of the Florida Division of Forestry to maintain the health and productivity of our state’s forests,” said Callie DeHaven, The Nature Conservancy’s public lands protection manager in Florida. “We also appreciate the partnership with the adjacent landowners including the Estes family who owned these particular tracts for many years and have such a close tie to the timber industry and history of the area.”

The parcels will be managed by DOF as additions to Blackwater River State Forest. By becoming part of the state forest, the parcels help eliminate the threat of development in the state forest and improve the continuous wildlife corridor from Eglin Air Force Base through the Conecuh National Forest in Alabama. Also within the project area is the Navy Outlying Landing Field – Harold.

“Projects like the Estes tracts will become increasingly rare if the legislature doesn’t act in the next session to restore funding to Florida Forever,” said Jeff Danter, Florida director of The Nature Conservancy.

The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. To date, the Conservancy and its more than one million members have been responsible for the protection of more than 18 million acres in the United States and have helped preserve more than 117 million acres in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at www.nature.org.