Non-profit closer to preserving one of Florida’s largest remaining old-growth longleaf pine forests

OCALA, Fla. — A non-profit organization is one step closer to preserving one of Florida’s largest remaining old-growth longleaf pine forests that had not been preserved.

The North Florida Land Trust is closer to preserving 541 acres in Marion County known as Swan Smiley Big Pine Preserve after Gov. DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet voted to approve the purchase of the property last week.

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Swan Smiley Big Pine Preserve is in the O2O Wildlife Corridor, adjacent to Lake Kerr and near the Salt Spring Recreation Area.

The O2O is a 1.6-million-acre corridor of public and private lands that connects the Ocala and Osceola National Forests.

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The private lands of Swan Smiley Big Pine Preserve are surrounded by Ocala National Forest which is home to many imperiled species including the Florida scrub-jay and the red-cockaded woodpecker.

In 2021, NFLT worked to bring the Swan Smiley Big Pine Preserve landowners under contract and have them agree to sell the property to the State.

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According to a news release, the property will be owned by the state and managed through a partnership between the Florida Forest Service and the U.S. National Forest.

“This is another great step forward for conservation in Florida because it is now or never,” said Allison DeFoor, president of NFLT. “We appreciate the willingness of these landowners to preserve these properties and for understanding that it is imperative for our State and future generations that we act now. Once these natural lands are lost, they are lost forever. I would also like to thank the Governor and Cabinet for their dedication to preservation.”

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