Wetland Preserve

Wetland Preserve Let us share our love of the outdoors and our commitment to preserving it for the future with you. Sustainable Florida Pine Tree Farm. Wetland Preserve, LLLP

Our 3400 acre Stewardship Forest is adjacent to the Rice Creek Conservation Area, a 5000+ acre project of the St. Johns River Water Management District located in Putnam County, Florida. Most of our land falls under what is considered a "mesic flatwoods" ecosystem designation, with a fair portion of it being mature creek swamps and a smaller area of dry sand hills. Conservation & restoration effor

ts are underway in all these areas. On the drier sand hill sites we have partnered with the US Fish & Wildlife Service for a gopher tortoise enhancement project. The vast majority of the creek swamps are held outside the forestry envelope meaning that baring any sort of natural calamity they are not harvested or disturbed in any way. Suitable areas of the "flatwoods" are being reforested with long leaf pine and the balance of the planted pine stand are under a "long rotation" management regimen. The net effect of all this results in a working forest that produces not just fiber and wood but serves wildlife, protects water resources and benefits native plants.

This innovative pilot program offers financial incentives to landowners who choose conservation over development, creati...
06/02/2026

This innovative pilot program offers financial incentives to landowners who choose conservation over development, creating a new tool to help keep Florida's rural landscapes intact while supporting agriculture, forestry, ranching, and other working lands.

For wildlife, it means more connected habitat and healthier ecosystems. For Florida residents, it means clean water, protected natural resources, and a stronger Florida Wildlife Corridor. And for conservation-minded landowners, it's another voluntary option that rewards good stewardship.
When conservation works for both people and nature, everyone benefits. šŸŒæšŸ¦ŒšŸ»

"The Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation teamed with The Balmoral Group to develop the Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) framework. Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) help cover the cost of choosing conservation instead of development, making it easier to keep the Florida Wildlife Corridor connected and keep land use compatible with nature."

*This pilot program is available to landowners in south-central Florida in the vicinity of the Avon Park Air Force Range Sentinel Landscape. This area includes all or parts of Highlands, Okeechobee, Osceola, and Polk Counties.*

https://www.wildlifecorridorpes-fl.com

Putnam Land Conservancy (PLC) and Burning for Birds Conservation Collaborative are teaming up for a bioblitz where you c...
05/25/2026

Putnam Land Conservancy (PLC) and Burning for Birds Conservation Collaborative are teaming up for a bioblitz where you can help identify and record bird species to collect data on bird population size and movement patterns. All levels of birding expertise are welcome. Bring water and comfortable walking shoes. It will be helpful to use bird ID apps like Merlin or eBird to help identify and record your bird observations. RSVP with PLC . **Please note there are park entry fees that are still required for this event, RSVP to have your entrance fee covered by PLC. Spots are limited to 30 guests! We also recommend bringing water and wearing comfortable walking shoes. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdh19Eqk4OBn4J9TiG0GBWOxj4uVqxiyPl5jBWEeM9yuG2Kxg/viewform?pli=1

Living with wildlife is a reality for many people across Florida, from small farms and hobby livestock owners to large w...
05/23/2026

Living with wildlife is a reality for many people across Florida, from small farms and hobby livestock owners to large working lands. This workshop will explore practical strategies for reducing conflicts with wildlife while protecting pets and livestock. Food and refreshments will be available for purchase from the local 4-H club, with proceeds benefiting the Collier County 4-H Livestock club and Livestock show activities. Free workshop. See link above for details and registration

05/21/2026

Listen to Ben share about the Yellow Jacket Nest he found along one of our roads at Wetland Preserve. SOUND ON

Twin fawns are not uncommon in healthy whitetail deer populations. When does have high-quality nutrition, they are more ...
05/21/2026

Twin fawns are not uncommon in healthy whitetail deer populations. When does have high-quality nutrition, they are more likely to successfully raise twins. Habitat management plays a huge role in that success.
One of the most important tools we use at Wetland Preserve is prescribed fire. Managed burns renew the understory vegetation by stimulating growth and allowing for an increase in plant diversity. New and more diverse growth provides deer with more nutritious forage throughout the year.
Healthier habitat leads to healthier wildlife ā€” stronger does, healthier fawns, and improved reproduction rates. Seeing a mother doe with twin fawns is a beautiful reminder of how good stewardship directly benefits the land and the animals.

05/04/2026

A pretty wild visitor showed up on our family dock this weekā€¦ šŸ» This video wasnā€™t taken at Wetland Preserve ...it was taken at our home in the Fruit Cove neighborhood.
This moment was exciting (and a little surreal!) .... I can't let it pass without highlighting the responsibility we share in protecting and preserving the spaces wildlife depend on -CONNECTED landscapes matter. Wildlife like this young black bear have to move through our region, navigating neighborhoods, roads, and fragmented habitats. Thatā€™s exactly why connected landscapesā€”like the Ocala to Osceola (O2O) Wildlife Corridorā€”are so important.
These corridors give animals safer pathways to travel, helping reduce unnecessary human-wildlife conflict.
And this isnā€™t rareā€”this is happening all across our state.

04/24/2026

Due to the increase in fire activity, it may be challenging to post wildfire updates throughout the day. We encourage everyone to use the Florida Forest Active Wildfire Dashboard for information on fire location, size and containment https://ffs.firesponse.com/public/

This platform does not provide specific information on fire behavior, evacuations, road closures, etc. We will try to post those updates as we are able to.

Below is a current photo of fires in our area.

We recommend the public and media also monitor the social media platforms for your county fire, county emergency management, county sheriff's office, county government and city government platforms for additional official sources of information.

We understand that a lot of people who rely on unofficial sources of information, but unfortunately unofficial sources of information can lead to misinformation and rumors so please take that into consideration. Please rely on the official, trusted and up to date information sources in your community.

04/24/2026

As wildfires continue to burn across Florida, we want to recognize the very real impact they are having on our communities. Homes, land, and livelihoods are being affected, and many families have had to evacuate šŸ ā¤ļø.

We are grateful for the firefighters and first responders working around the clock in dangerous conditions. THANK YOU.

While Wetland Preserve has not been directly affected, fires are active in surrounding areas. This is a sobering reminder of the role fire plays in our landscape. Just as our public lands are carefully managed with prescribed fire by our stateā€™s professional land managers, we work to apply those same principles here at Wetland Preserve. Prescribed fire is a critical tool for reducing fuel loads and supporting healthier, more resilient ecosystems. It is our hope that these efforts provide some level of protection should wildfire reach our land.

We are keeping all those impacted in our thoughts and prayers.

Address

State Road 100
Palatka, FL
32177

Telephone

+19044140628

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Wetland Preserve posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Wetland Preserve:

Shortcuts

Share