Babcock Ranch Development in regionally-important wetlands and wildlife habitat impacts all of Southwest Florida. When the historic Babcock Ranch was sold to a developer Kitson & Partners, the Conservancy partnered with other organizations to help negotiate the protection of as much of the environmentally-sensitive land as possible. The Babcock Ranch lands include over 81,000 acres in Lee County and almost 10,000 acres in Charlotte County. Following five years of negotiations, and a last-minute lawsuit, the State of Florida reached an agreement with Kitson & Partners in 2005 to preserve more than 80 percent of the land.
The 74,000-acre State acquisition brings to near completion a natural land corridor stretching from Lake Okeechobee to the Gulf of Mexico --- protecting a vitally needed water-recharge area for southwest Florida, as both a working ranch and a highly functional freshwater swamp system. Babcock Ranch is also home to the Florida panther and Florida black bear. It also provides opportunities for future generations to enjoy recreational activities in Florida’s natural environment. The Conservancy of Southwest Florida played a key role, keeping the negotiations on track and all parties engaged through the complicated land purchase process. The Conservancy continues to stay involved to ensure that the preserve and public areas on the property are developed and managed properly.
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