$10M federal grant will help protect land along Lake Wales Ridge

Wildlands Conservation Inc., an environmental nonprofit based in Tampa, has received a $10 million federal grant to conserve land along the Lake Wales Ridge.

The award came from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program for a five-year project scheduled to begin in 2027. The Lake Wales Ridge Ecosystem project area includes southeastern Polk County, as well as Marion, Lake and Highlands counties, Wildlands Conservation said in a news release.

The $10 million award will match a similar amount from county and state land protection programs. Collectively, there will be more than $20 million in funding and resources dedicated by the Lake Wales Ridge Ecosystem RCPP partnership, which will expand protection of natural and working lands in Central Florida, the release said.

By combining federal funding with state and county resources, the partnership aims to permanently protect about 3,500 acres while providing landowners with alternatives to selling their lands for development. The funding leverages land protection through the Polk County Environmental Lands program and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, the release said.

"Polk County congratulates Wildlands Conservation Inc. on the recent award," Tabitha Biehl, director of the Polk County Parks and Natural Resources Division, said by email. "This will support land conservation efforts in Polk County along the Lake Wales Ridge. Partnerships are critical to meet the goals of connecting conservation and working landscapes to protect Polk's water, wildlife and wilderness resources. Polk County looks forward to partnering with Wildlands on future projects."

Conservation easements are voluntary legal agreements that permanently limit development while keeping land in private ownership. Depending on the terms of each agreement, landowners can continue compatible farming, ranching, forestry and other uses while protecting the conservation values of their property.

The Lake Wales Ridge is an ancient dune system that supports citrus groves, ranchlands, forests, critical water recharge areas and globally significant wildlife habitat. Citrus greening and increasing development pressure threaten both the region's agricultural economy and its natural lands, the release said.

The project will help protect rural and agricultural lands that contribute to the Florida Wildlife Corridor, sustaining connections among important conservation areas. In addition, the RCPP project area overlaps part of the Avon Park Air Force Range Sentinel Landscape.

Landowners interested in learning about conservation opportunities may contact Wildlands Conservation at 813-252-6517 or [email protected].

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: $10M federal grant will help protect land along Lake Wales Ridge

Published November 2, 2026