The Florida Department of Environmental Protection announced on March 30 that it has secured a conservation easement over the 1,668-acre Bar-B Ranch in Martin County through the Florida Forever Program. The agreement protects a working cattle ranch while advancing water quality and Everglades restoration goals.
The conservation easement is significant because it allows Bar-B Ranch to remain in agricultural production while permanently preventing future development. This approach supports both environmental protection and local agriculture by safeguarding natural water storage and filtration functions essential for the health of downstream ecosystems such as the St. Lucie River Estuary, Indian River Lagoon, Lake Okeechobee, and the Greater Everglades.
Bar-B Ranch is located near key areas like the C-44 Stormwater Treatment Area and Allapattah Flats Wildlife Management Area. The property also lies within the Florida Wildlife Corridor, helping maintain habitat connectivity across the region. DEP Secretary Alexis A. Lambert said, “Conservation easements through Florida Forever keep working lands in agriculture while protecting the natural functions that support our environment.” Lambert added, “At Bar-B Ranch, protecting a working ranch also protects critical water flows, wetland functions and wildlife corridors, showing how agricultural lands and Everglades restoration can support each other.”
This acquisition was approved by Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet during a previous Cabinet meeting. Since 2019, more than $1.5 billion has been committed to Florida Forever projects statewide with over 500,000 acres acquired for conservation—55% of which are conservation easements.
According to the official website of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, efforts have included building resilient coasts through restoration initiatives as well as maintaining state parks that provide recreational opportunities across Florida. The department oversees more than 175 state parks, trails and historic sites statewide according to its official website. It aims to safeguard air, water and land resources throughout all regions with programs ranging from environmental project permitting to waste management regulation according to its official website.
The protection of Bar-B Ranch reflects ongoing efforts by state leaders to balance environmental stewardship with economic uses like agriculture—a model recognized nationwide for its benefits in resilience against storm impacts as well as habitat preservation.
