LAKELAND, FL, March 24, 2025 – The Florida Cabinet has approved all nine conservation projects proposed by Saunders Real Estate, totaling $132.45 million and covering 35,411 acres across Central Florida. These efforts highlight the firm’s commitment to preserving the state’s vital ecosystems and rural landscapes and prevent future development.
Under these transactions, landowners retain ownership and agricultural use of the land in exchange for selling development rights to the state, ensuring the land remains undeveloped and helping protect wildlife and agriculture forever. Notable projects include the $51.1 million Bull Hammock Ranch conservation easement, spanning 5,875 acres, and the Trailhead Blue Springs LLC project, protecting 11,713 acres with a $22.25 million purchase price. Additionally, the Florida FFA/Catfish Creek project, which encompasses the Florida FFA Leadership Training Center (LTC) in Haines City, reflects Saunders Real Estate’s diverse approach to land preservation.
The conservation easement sale on Bull Hammock Ranch helped to preserve nearly 6,000 acres of vital Florida land.
The projects facilitated by Saunders Real Estate accounted for 41% of the total acreage and 42% of the total purchase price approved during the Cabinet meeting. Within the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program (RFLPP), the firm’s contributions represented 51% of the total RFLPP acreage and 54% of the total RFLPP purchase price.
“Florida is at a critical juncture in the effort to conserve its natural resources, and these approvals represent significant progress,” said Dean Saunders, Founder and Managing Director of Saunders Real Estate. “This is a step in the right direction, but truly safeguarding Florida’s environmental legacy will require increased and consistent funding that keeps pace with rising land values, along with ongoing support from state governments.”
Dean Saunders, ALC, CCIM, Founder of Saunders Real Estate
Mr. Saunders has been a leading force behind Florida’s conservation efforts. As a former state legislator in the 1990s, he wrote the legislation to establish the Green Swamp Land Authority, the first state entity to purchase development rights (PDR) from landowners. The legislation was truly a pioneering concept with no formal program in place within the State at the time. It was established to determine if the concept of PDRs would be accepted by landowners and adopted by government agencies. The pilot program was limited to the geography of The Green Swamp, a 322,690-acre area identified by the State of Florida as an Area of Critical State Concern.
The concept has rebranded to the purchase of conservation easements and, through the years, has become widely accepted and adopted by landowners. It has proven to be an effective tool to preserve land by local, state, and federal agencies.
For over 30 years, Mr. Saunders has represented landowners to secure conservation easements. Conservation easements allow the landowner to sell the developmental rights of their property to the State or a qualified agency and keep the property in natural or working agricultural conditions while maintaining ownership of the land. The conservation easement guides the property’s use and protects it in perpetuity. Conservation easements are cost-effective for taxpayers because it costs less money to buy rights than the property, and the state doesn’t have to pay to manage the land.
These projects demonstrate the importance of public-private collaboration in achieving Florida’s conservation goals. Through these transactions, Saunders Real Estate continues to lead efforts to preserve the state’s natural heritage while supporting its agricultural economy.
About Saunders Real Estate
Saunders Real Estate is a leading land and commercial real estate brokerage serving buyers,
sellers, investors, and landowners across the Southeastern United States for nearly 30 years. With over 125 advisors and offices in major U.S. markets, including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, and Georgia, the firm specializes in large-acreage land transactions, commercial property sales and leasing, and property management.
To reflect its legacy and continued growth, Saunders Real Estate operates through two divisions—Saunders Land and Saunders Commercial. The firm's expertise spans agriculture, conservation, recreation, residential development, and commercial real estate, supported by specialized services such as forestry, land management, and investment acquisitions.
Today, Saunders Real Estate is recognized as a trusted authority in the region, delivering
exceptional results through experienced leadership, innovative strategies, and a client-focused
approach.