The state's Florida Forever land conservation program has purchased 10,702 acres of land in Hendry County from the Fort Myers-based Alico, Inc., citrus company for $28.5 million dollars. The purchase was made public Friday.
This marks the second time the state has purchased land from that company, in an area known as the Devil's Garden. Through the Florida Forever program, the state purchased more than 5,500 acres of conservation land from Alico in 2019, the AP reports.
The two land purchases represent more than 16,000 acres of conservation land considered prime habitat for endangered Florida panthers.