Putnam Land Conservancy

08/28/2026

We are thrilled to announce that the 816-acre Meetinghouse Groves Conservation Easement in Putnam County has been protected through a joint acquisition with the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program and the Regional Conservation Partnership Program.

A Rural Lands Protection Easement combines preservation of natural lands and working lands ensuring that the agricultural operations may continue as they are for future generations, providing a lasting family legacy for our Florida farmers. The Meetinghouse Groves Conservation Easement protects a 100-acre citrus grove, timberlands, magnolia tree cut foliage production, and about 415 acres of significant natural areas.

The property, portions of which have been in the Padgett family for four generations, consists of over 830 acres, including a historic residence, dating back to the 1870s. Although owners, the Putnam County family sees its role as stewards of the natural value of the land and its woodlands, wetlands, lakes, ponds, open spaces, farmlands, endangered species and all other wildlife. “We are proud Floridians and want to see this part of Old Florida preserved, without development, in perpetuity,” stated Jim Padgett, spokesperson for the family. Padgett gave special thanks to W***y the Losen with the Putnam Land Conservancy and Kim Hall with the North Florida Land Trust for guiding and supporting the preservation of this and other valued Florida lands.

This conservation easement provides water protection for 430 acres of wetlands, as well as several lakes including Lake Margaret and Silver Lake. It also provides connectivity to the Welaka Woods Conservation Easement held by the North Florida Land Trust within the Ocala-to-Osceola portion of the Florida Wildlife Corridor.

Thank you to the landowners, Florida Department of Agricultural and Consumer Services, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the North Florida Land Trust for their assistance in ensuring this land is protected in perpetuity. PLC is honored to showcase how federal, state, and local partnerships can make a meaningful impact for the future of our natural lands.

08/25/2026

We are just $7,800 away from our fundraising goal for the year. This funding will help PLC carry on our mission of land and wildlife conservation, helping to acquire more lands for the Florida Wildlife Corridor.

Over the past year PLC has conserved 7,300 acres throughout North Florida and is currently facilitating over 17,000 acres in active conservation projects, with nearly 3,000 acres set to close by the end of 2026. These lands help to protect Florida’s water, wildlife, agricultural lands, and natural resources.

In addition to conservation land acquisition, PLC manages a 15-acre restoration area for the endangered clasping warea plant and threatened sand skink. PLC also owns and manages 21 public and private preserves totaling 580 acres and holds 5 conservation easements totaling 305 acres.

Thank you to everyone who has donated so far, your continued support is greatly appreciated!

Donate at https://putnamlandconservancy.org/ or https://www.paypal.com/donate?campaign_id=LCRGPRN2PL97E

08/21/2026

PLC visited the 3,650-acre Ocklawaha Bufferlands Florida Forever acquisition project for ecological assessment. This is a proposed conservation easement that would preserve 1,100 acres of timberlands, a 550-acre cattle ranch, and a small orange grove. Conservation would also provide significant water protection for 200 acres of wetlands and 400 acres of lakes and ponds found throughout the property, as well as the neighboring Ocklawaha River and Lake Weir.

The threatened Florida sand skink was documented at the Ocklawaha Bufferlands project and other species, such as the gopher tortoise, eastern indigo snake, and bald eagles would also benefit from habitat protection.

Thank you to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Florida Forest Service, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Natural Areas Inventory, Florida Department of State Division of Historical Resources, and the St. Johns River Water Management District for joining PLC in the field.

08/15/2026

It’s National Honeybee Day! Most of us know how important bees are for pollination, but did you know that bees pollinate nearly 85% of our crops? Bees are essential for our survival, in fact, research has shown that without bees many plants would have no way to reproduce and die out, threatening ecosystem stability.

Bees have been in rapid decline due to pesticide use, habitat loss, disease, and changes in weather patterns. According to the Center for Biological Diversity, more than half of North America’s 4,000 native bee species are in decline, with 28% of species facing the risk of extinction.

There are a few easy steps you can take to help protect the bees: add native plants and wildflowers to your garden for food, keep a pile of dead leaves and sticks for nesting, provide water access with a shallow dish, and reduce the use of harmful chemicals in your yard. Other great options include supporting organizations working to conserve wildlife habitat and advocating for policies that help benefit the bees, like restrictions on pesticide use, implementing roadside pollinator habitat, and promoting community gardens.

PLC is the owner of the Brush-Smith Butterfly Garden in Interlachen, which provides native pollinator habitat within the downtown area that would otherwise have little ecological presence. We’d like to thank the Garden Club of Interlachen for maintaining our garden.

08/14/2026

Here are some more amazing photos taken by Emily Bell with the Florida Wildflower Foundation during our field trip at Deep Creek. Deep Creek is an ecologically unique tributary of the Ocklawaha River.

PLC is honored to share such a beautiful showcase of Florida’s ecosystem, especially one regarded as one of most botanically diverse natural areas in Florida! The rare Atlantic white cedar ecosystem is one of two known stands in Florida, providing habitat for nine listed plant species, including the large-leaved grass-of-Parnassus, Florida willow, and Florida spiny pod, along with several other unique plant species like the nodding nixie.

PLC assisted the Florida Department of Environmental Protection in acquiring 195 acres along Deep Creek through the Florida Forever Program. This acquisition is now managed as part of the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway.

08/12/2026

PLC would like to thank everyone that has donated to our fundraiser so far. We have reached our match, bringing us to $82,000 raised. We can’t make our mission of land and wildlife conservation possible without your help, and we have the best group of supporters!

Funding will go towards conserving additional lands for the Florida Wildlife Corridor, protecting our natural communities and native wildlife. Last year PLC helped conserve over 7,300 acres throughout North Florida. Now PLC is currently facilitating over 17,000 acres in active conservation projects, approximately 2,992 acres of which are set to close by the end of 2026.

Conservation is now or never, that’s why it’s so important for PLC to continue our essential work. There’s only $18,000 left to meet our goal for this year, please consider making a donation if it feels right to you. Thank you for your continued support!

Donate at https://putnamlandconservancy.org/ or https://www.paypal.com/donate?campaign_id=LCRGPRN2PL97E

08/09/2026

Come celebrate Smokey Bear's 82nd Birthday at Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park in Keystone Heights on Saturday, August 15 from 9am-1pm!

The park will have several activities to educate and promote prescribed fire, including touch-a-fire-truck, Smokey Bear Storytime and meet-and-greet, and more! The North Florida Trailblazers will be at the event so stop by and say hello!

The park is off State Road 21. Event is free with park entry of $5 per vehicle.

Since 1944, Smokey Bear has inspired generations to prevent unwanted, human-caused wildfires. His message is as relevant today as ever: “Only You Can Prevent Wildfires.”

Visit SmokeyBear.com to learn more about wildfire prevention tips.

Learn wildfire prevention tips from Smokey Bear

08/07/2026

PLC went on another Florida Forever site visit at the Putnam Clay Timberlands acquisition project for ecological assessment. Putnam Clay Timberlands is a 7,000-acre project abutting the Bayard Conservation Area, protecting timberlands and water quality for the St. Johns River with nearly 3,000 acres of wetlands. Conservation would also protect habitat for gopher tortoises, the Florida black bear, bald eagles, little blue herons, eastern indigo snakes, deer, and turkeys.

A 2,635-acre portion of the property would be managed by the St. Johns River Water Management District as an addition to the Bayard Conservation Area, that has recreational amenities for camping, fishing, hiking, bicycling, horseback riding, geocaching, and hunting. The southern 4245-acre portion will be managed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission as a new wildlife management area. The remaining 184 acres are a proposed conservation easement that would remain in private ownership.

Thank you to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Florida Forest Service, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Natural Areas Inventory, Florida Department of State Division of Historical Resources, and the St. Johns River Water Management District for joining PLC in the field. We look forward to the next step in seeing this land protected!

07/31/2026

This year marks the 20th anniversary of Putnam Land Conservancy, and thanks to supporters, like you, we are celebrating our most successful year. During the past year alone, your support helped PLC facilitate 23 conservation projects that permanently protected 7,300 acres.

PLC’s highest conservation priority continues to be completing the Florida Wildlife Corridor, particularly the critical link known as the O2O and other gaps in the corridor. Conservation science has shown that connected landscapes are essential for wildlife and plants to move freely, maintain healthy populations, and adapt to the growing pressures of development and climate change.

The lands conserved by PLC also safeguard our state’s green infrastructure that is essential for the quality of life for all Floridians. Conserved natural areas, forests, wetlands, and agricultural lands recharge the Floridan Aquifer, protect the headwaters of our rivers and springs, improve water quality, reduce flooding, and help ensure clean water for future generations.

Private support for land conservation in Florida is now more important than ever. It’s a race against time to protect critical linkages in the Florida Wildlife Corridor before they are severed forever because of development. Acquisition funding sources are solely for land acquisitions or conservation easements. They do not cover the costs for private land trusts to do the essential work to facilitate transactions. That’s why it’s so important to have your support.

To effectively perform our essential role, over the next year of closing gaps in the Florida Wildlife Corridor, PLC is seeking to raise $100,000. A generous supporter has pledged to match dollar for dollar the first $20,000 in donations made before September 1st. Please help PLC continue to protect lands and waters in the Florida Wildlife Corridor by making a tax-deductible gift of whatever amount is meaningful to you.

Thank you for your generosity and your commitment to protecting the Florida Wildlife Corridor. Together, we can ensure that Florida’s special places remain protected forever.

Donate at: https://www.paypal.com/donate?campaign_id=LCRGPRN2PL97E

07/28/2026

We want to thank Emily Bell at the Florida Wildflower Foundation for sharing some of these incredible photos she captured during our field trip last weekend at Deep Creek!