FDACS Announces Preservation of Double Eagle Ranch – Morning Ag Clips

Report on Florida’s Agricultural Land Preservation and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) has announced the permanent preservation of approximately 958 acres of agricultural land in Volusia County. Through a rural lands protection easement on the Double Eagle Ranch, this initiative prevents future development while ensuring the continuation of its active timber operations. This action directly supports several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by safeguarding food and resource production, promoting sustainable land management, and protecting vital ecosystems from urban expansion.

Project Overview: Double Eagle Ranch Preservation

• Location: Volusia County, Florida
• Acreage: 958 acres
• Land Use: Active timber operation, including planted timber and open wetlands.
• Conservation Mechanism: A voluntary rural lands protection easement acquired via the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program.
• Strategic Importance: The property is located adjacent to an area projected for significant residential development by 2040, making its preservation a critical measure to mitigate urban sprawl and maintain landscape integrity.

Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The preservation of Double Eagle Ranch and the broader work of the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program make significant contributions to the global sustainability agenda.

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger

   • The program safeguards productive agricultural lands, ensuring their continued use for the production of food, timber, and other essential resources, thereby strengthening Florida’s food supply security.
   • By preventing the conversion of farmland to other uses, it supports long-term agricultural viability and food production capacity for future generations.

2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • The program serves as a direct countermeasure to unsustainable urban sprawl by creating permanent greenbelts and protecting rural landscapes from development pressures.
   • It promotes sustainable land-use planning by integrating the conservation of working lands into regional development strategies.

3. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

   • The initiative ensures sustainable production practices by allowing agricultural and timber operations to continue under a conservation framework that protects natural resources.
   • Keeping the land in private, working hands encourages responsible stewardship and contributes to a sustainable local economy.

4. SDG 15: Life on Land

   • The preservation of properties like Double Eagle Ranch protects vital ecosystems, including forests and wetlands, which are crucial for biodiversity and wildlife habitats.
   • This effort aligns with the goals of the Florida Wildlife Corridor Act, which aims to connect and protect natural areas, thereby enhancing ecological resilience and conserving terrestrial ecosystems.

Programmatic Framework and Impact

The Rural and Family Lands Protection Program is the primary vehicle for these conservation efforts.

• Establishment: The program was created in 2001 with the passage of the Rural and Family Lands Protection Act to address the increasing threat of urban development to agricultural lands.
• Methodology: It partners with farmers and ranchers to purchase development rights through voluntary easements, ensuring that land remains in agricultural production permanently.
• Accomplishments:
  • Since its inception, the program has permanently preserved over 213,000 acres of working agricultural land.
  • Over 148,000 of these acres have been preserved under the administration of Commissioner Wilton Simpson.
• State Commitment: A strong commitment to the program is evidenced by the more than $700 million in state funding secured since 2022, including a $250 million allocation for the 2025/2026 state budget.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger: The article directly addresses this goal by focusing on the preservation of agricultural land to “safeguard Florida’s food producers” and “protect Florida’s food supply.” The program aims to keep farms and ranches operational for generations, ensuring continued food production.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The article highlights the threat of “urban development” to agricultural lands. The Rural and Family Lands Protection Program is a direct response to this pressure, representing a form of sustainable land-use planning that manages urban sprawl and protects rural areas from being consumed by development.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: The program supports the continuation of “sustainable production practices” on working lands. By preserving land for the production of “food, timber, and other resources,” it promotes the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources, which is a core principle of SDG 12.
• SDG 15: Life on Land: The initiative is explicitly linked to conserving natural resources and ecosystems. The article mentions that the preserved land includes “open wetlands” and that the program aligns with the “Florida Wildlife Corridor Act,” which aims to “protect and connect Florida’s natural areas and wildlife habitats.” This directly contributes to protecting terrestrial ecosystems and halting biodiversity loss.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 2.4: “By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices…” The article’s emphasis on partnering with farmers “to ensure sustainable production practices” and keeping “working agricultural lands” productive directly aligns with this target.
2. Target 11.3: “By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for… sustainable human settlement planning and management…” The program acts as a mechanism for sustainable planning by using easements to prevent development, thereby managing the expansion of urban areas into productive rural landscapes.
3. Target 12.2: “By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.” The program’s goal of preserving land for the continued production of “food, timber, and other resources” while also “conserving our natural resources” is a direct application of this target.
4. Target 15.1: “By 2030, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands…” The preservation of Double Eagle Ranch, which consists of “planted timber and open wetlands,” directly contributes to the conservation of these specific ecosystems.
5. Target 15.5: “Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity…” By preventing the conversion of farmland, timberland, and wetlands into residential or urban areas, the program actively reduces the degradation and loss of natural habitats mentioned in the article.
6. Target 15.9: “By 2030, integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning, development processes…” The Rural and Family Lands Protection Program is a clear example of integrating ecosystem values (food production, natural resource conservation, wildlife habitats) into state and local land-use planning to counter development trends.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Area of land preserved: The article provides specific quantitative data that can serve as a direct indicator of progress. This includes “approximately 958 acres” for the Double Eagle Ranch, “more than 213,000 acres” preserved by the program since its inception, and “more than 148,000 acres” preserved under the current administration. This metric can be used to track progress for targets related to land conservation (e.g., Target 15.1, 15.5).
• Financial resources allocated: The article mentions the financial commitment to the program, stating that “more than $700 million in state funding” has been secured since 2022, including “$250 million in the 2025/2026 state budget.” This serves as an indicator of the level of official commitment and investment in conservation and sustainable land management, relevant to targets under SDG 15.
• Number of participating properties/operations: While the article focuses on one ranch, the program’s overall scope implies a number of participating farms and ranches. The “story map of all completed Rural and Family Lands Protection Program projects” suggests that the number of individual projects is a trackable metric, indicating the adoption of sustainable practices (relevant to Target 2.4).

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

Source: morningagclips.com