Florida leaders are hailing a recent acquisition of new conservation land.

A total of 12,243 acres in Bay County will become Sandy Creek State Forest, and will expand the Florida Wildlife Corridor , creating what the Department of Environmental Protection calls “a major new destination for public recreation in Northwest Florida.”

“With the creation of Sandy Creek State Forest, we’re not only preserving vital ecosystems and expanding wildlife habitat but also connecting conservation lands from Eglin Air Force Base to Apalachicola National Forest,” said DEP Secretary Alexis A. Lambert . “This new state forest will offer meaningful public access while protecting the natural resources that make our state so special.”

The protection of the land will confer benefits, including a sec

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