Wetland Preserve

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Palatka, FL
Wetland Preserve

Let us share our love of the outdoors and our commitment to preserving it for the future with you. Sustainable Florida Pine Tree Farm. Wetland Preserve, LLLP

Our 3400 acre Stewardship Forest is adjacent to the Rice Creek Conservation Area, a 5000+ acre project of the St. Johns River Water Management District located in Putnam County, Florida. Most of our land falls under what is considered a "mesic flatwoods" ecosystem designation, with a fair portion of it being mature creek swamps and a smaller area of dry sand hills. Conservation & restoration efforts are underway in all these areas. On the drier sand hill sites we have partnered with the US Fish & Wildlife Service for a gopher tortoise enhancement project. The vast majority of the creek swamps are held outside the forestry envelope meaning that baring any sort of natural calamity they are not harvested or disturbed in any way. Suitable areas of the "flatwoods" are being reforested with long leaf pine and the balance of the planted pine stand are under a "long rotation" management regimen. The net effect of all this results in a working forest that produces not just fiber and wood but serves wildlife, protects water resources and benefits native plants.

10/29/2026

10/28/2026

A leader in conserving land for future Floridian's has passed and he will be deeply missed. “Allison’s legacy lives in the landscapes he helped protect, the relationships he built, and the people he inspired to act. We will carry that legacy forward with care and determination.”

We are heartbroken by the loss of Allison DeFoor, our president and CEO, colleague, and friend. Our hearts are with his wife, Randy, his family, and all who loved him.

A seventh-generation Floridian, Allison devoted his life to serving others and protecting the Florida he loved. His work in conservation, public service, and ministry reflected his belief that we each have a responsibility to care for the places and people around us.

At North Florida Land Trust, he brought that conviction to work every day. He brought people together, inspired action, and reminded us of the urgency of protecting our irreplaceable natural lands. “It is now or never,” he said so many times.

His legacy lives in the places he helped protect and the people he inspired. We will miss him deeply, and we will honor his memory by carrying forward the work he loved.

Thank you, Allison, for your friendship, your faith in what we could accomplish together, and your enduring love for Florida. We will carry that love forward in the land we protect and the promises we keep to future generations.

10/28/2026

Happy Florida Forests Week!

Florida’s forests do more than provide beautiful places to explore - they help protect water quality, support wildlife, and contribute to the health of our springs, rivers, and aquifer. This week, we celebrate the vital role forests play in keeping North Florida’s natural resources healthy for generations to come.

📸 Cabbage Grove Tract

10/27/2026

Florida Forestry Week 2026 (Florida Forestry Association)

Over the past year, we’ve posted lots of pictures, videos and information. We have shared prescribed burns, whitetail fawns, a curious Florida black bear and native plants .. all things that make this landscape special.

We hope you can see that all of this is part of a bigger story: a healthy forest is about more than trees.

Prescribed fire helps maintain the diverse understory that provides food and cover for wildlife. (North Florida Prescribed Burn Association)

Encounters with animals from Black Bears to turtles remind us that these forests are part of a much larger natural landscape... one that needs to stay connected. ( Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation)

Protecting native plants, including rare and endangered species, helps preserve the unique biodiversity of our region. (Florida Native Plant Society)

And through responsible timber management,BMP's and tools like conservation easments we work to keep Wetland Preserve a productive working forest while protecting its ecological value for generations to come. (North Florida Land Trust)

Wetland Preserve is a privately owned working forest protected in part through Florida Forever conservation easements.

10/27/2026

2026 Landowner Tours: Wetland Preserve Recap! 🌲

Thank you to everyone who joined the North Florida Prescribed Burn Association at Wetland Preserve on October 14! We welcomed 45 attendees for a day of learning, conversation, and sharing experiences.

Discussions highlighted the importance of prescribed fire, the benefits of membership in the Florida Forestry Association, and the vital role landowners play in educating the public about responsible forestry.

From supporting Florida’s economy to providing ecosystem services and preserving wildlife habitat, working forests offer benefits that reach far beyond the land itself. Outreach opportunities like these help build understanding of the important role forestry plays in our state.

A big thank-you to our partners and everyone who made this tour possible! 🌿🔥

10/27/2026

Happy Florida Forestry Week!

Happy Florida Forests Week 2026! This week people around the state will be celebrating all things forests -- the important roles they hold in in our communities, culture, and daily lives, in the environment, and in the economy.

What is YOUR favorite thing about Florida forestry?

Comment, like and share to spread the love!

UF IFAS School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences SFFGS Audubon Florida The Nature Conservancy in Florida Florida Ag Coalition Florida Farm Bureau Federation Florida Land Steward Partnership Florida Forest Service

10/09/2026

Fall Horticultural Festival, Alachua County 17 October 2026- 9:00 am to 4:00 pm ET at Alachua County Agriculture and Equestrian Center, 23100 W Newberry Rd, Newberry, FL 32669. Over 75 vendors offer educational booths, plant sales (including native plants), activities for kids, food trucks, demonstrations and more. This year, there will be an Orchid Showcase, “Fang Fest”, and Keynote Speaker Brie Arthur will provide a presentation. https://www.ggcfl.org/fallexpo

10/05/2026

October is Florida Native Plant Month

Email 0 Facebook 0 Twitter 0 Reddit 0 X Linkedin 0 Stumbleupon 0 Celebrate by planting a native plant. While the rest of the country looks toward the first autumn frosts, North Florida gardeners know that October is our time to shine. Our best planting window as the weather starts to cool off encour...

10/04/2026

We couldn't think of a better way to begin October than by welcoming the Beluthahatchee St. Johns FNPS (Beluthahatchee Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society) to Wetland Preserve! Thank you to the Beluthahatchee Chapter for spending the day with us and for the work you do to help people learn about and appreciate Florida's native plants!
- Special Thanks to our friend Rhonda K Lovett for capturing these moments.

10/03/2026

In our last video, Ben showed some of the damage left behind after the lightning-strike wildfire at Wetland Preserve — including mature pines that were lost after the fire continued to smolder in the accumulated duff around their bases.

Next phase: salvaging some of the timber that was killed by the fire.

If you listen in here Ben walks us through the process as a harvester and forwarder work together to remove the fire-damaged pine. The equipment we're using is Ponsse forest machinery, designed specifically for efficient and controlled forest harvesting. https://www.ponsse.com/en/products

Address

State Road 100
Palatka, FL
32177

Telephone

+19044140628

Website

http://benandlouann.com/

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