The A2O, which refers to the Atlantic to Okefenokee Conservation Corridor, has just received a major approval for potential conservation efforts. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Acquisition and Restoration Council (ARC) has given the green light to include the A2O on the Florida Forever Priority List.
Nassau County and North Florida Land Trust (NFLT), who have been collaborating on conservation initiatives for quite some time, joined forces to propose to ARC the addition of this crucial corridor to the priority list. This move is a significant step towards preserving over 55,000 acres of land for conservation purposes.
Spanning from the eastern coast of the Atlantic Ocean to the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in the west, the A2O encompasses a vast area of 55,864 acres that both the NFLT and Nassau County aim to conserve.
The corridor comprises the John M. Bethea State Forest, Osceola Wildlife Management Area, and the Osceola State Forest complex, while the St. Marys River serves as its northern boundary. Notably, the river holds immense ecological, historical, and recreational importance and serves as a critical habitat for the federally listed endangered species, the Atlantic sturgeon.
Allison DeFoor, CEO and President of NFLT, expressed her excitement by stating, “This expansion of the Florida Forever list is a significant milestone for conservation. It is one of the most extensive expansions we have witnessed so far.”
Brandy Carvalho, the Director of Strategic Advancement & Economic Resources for Nassau County, expressed her excitement over the recent achievement, stating, “Our residents, who highly cherish nature and conservation, will greatly benefit from this accomplishment. This is a significant milestone for Nassau County.”
The St. Marys River’s southern watershed now boasts a 90,000-acre conservation corridor, thanks to the completion of A2O. This achievement more than doubles the existing conservation lands near its boundaries, covering 80 miles of the river. The state has already identified over 1,200 acres as necessary additions to Ralph E. Simmons State Forest and Ft. Clinch Preserve State Park, which are now part of the conservation corridor.
The A2O is home to a plethora of crucial lands that play a vital role in Florida’s ecosystems. These lands include natural floodplains, underrepresented natural communities, fragile coastal resources, priority aquifer recharge lands, and rare species priority areas.
Notably, Nassau County’s Conservation Land Acquisition and Management program (CLAM) has identified approximately 12,000 acres in the A2O as conservation priorities. To facilitate the acquisition and management of these lands, NFLT collaborated with Nassau County to rank, identify and assess them. Given that Nassau County is the ninth fastest-growing county in Florida, these ecologically significant lands face a significant threat of development.
The A2O corridor is not just environmentally significant, but also holds a great historical importance. In the past, this land has been home to numerous Native American nations such as the Timucuans, Uchees, and Muskogees, along with the Gullah Geechee nation. The A2O and St. Marys have been crucial areas for these populations for residential purposes, foraging, and fishing.
Furthermore, the northern boundary of the river formed a part of the St. Marys River Paddling Trail. Interestingly, the A2O corridor has also been a witness to significant events in American history, such as the American Revolution, the War of 1812, and the American Civil War.
The ARC Board of Trustees will need to approve the next step before any properties or conservation easements within the A2O can be acquired. Following this approval, the governor and cabinet will likely request funding next year.
North Florida Land Trust is committed to safeguarding the natural environment of North Florida to improve the quality of life. Since its establishment in 1999, NFLT has preserved vast areas of land through the purchase or donation of land and conservation easements.
NFLT’s funding primarily comes from private and corporate donations, and it collaborates with landowners, government agencies, non-profit organizations, and foundations. Get more details about North Florida Land Trust by visiting nflt.org.