About

Located in south central Florida between Orlando and Lake Okeechobee, the Avon Park Air Force Range Sentinel Landscape (APAFRSL) covers approximately 1,700,000 acres of land, anchored by the US Air Force’s largest primary air-to-ground training range east of the Mississippi River which is used by every branch of the Armed Forces. The region is known for its rich biodiversity, nature-dependent rural economies rooted in a culture of ranching, and the Lake Wales Ridge - a globally unique ecosystem that is home to many rare and endangered plant and animal species and one of Florida’s most productive aquifers, supplying water to more than 1 million people. As the headwaters of the Everglades, the landscape plays a crucial role in water quality, quantity, and storage capacity and houses the Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area, a 900-acre parcel that offers excellent public outdoor recreational and educational opportunities. The sentinel landscape also contains a sizable portion of the Florida Wildlife Corridor, a state legislative and executive priority area for wildlife connectivity conservation and protection of rural economies.

In 2016, more than 30 local partners collaboratively formed the APAFRSL to protect the region’s natural resources, support agricultural working lands, strengthen military readiness, and provide educational and recreational opportunities while contributing to Florida’s economy. Within the landscape, willing landowners receive technical land management and financial assistance. Among the many options available to landowners is establishing conservation easements which enable landowners to keep their land in perpetuity for future generations, while usually continuing to maintain agricultural operations.