In June 2025, with support from Atira Conservation, Alachua Conservation Trust purchased 40 acres in Columbia County, Florida, north of the Ichetucknee River and Springs. The acquisition protects  approximately 30 acres of hardwood forest and 10 acres of planted pine in an area of vital importance for local conservation efforts.

The preserve is located within the Ichetucknee Trace, an area between Lake City and the Santa Fe River, where the Ichetucknee River once flowed. It is also in the Ichetucknee Springs Priority Focus Area, the Santa Fe River Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP), and the Ichetucknee Springs State Park Optimum Boundary. These important conservation areas designated by the state of Florida were identified by teams of wildlife ecologists, water quality scientists, conservation planners, and other environmental professionals.

The hardwood forest features live oaks, hickories, swamp white oaks, magnolias, and numerous karst features. The remainder of the property includes an old field and a planted pine forest. According to historical aerial imagery dating back to at least the 1930s, the area was historically longleaf pine sandhill. The preserve provides suitable habitat for numerous species, including the gopher tortoise, a keystone species in Florida.

Alachua Conservation Trust has been coordinating on the purchase of the Kathy Schuster Memorial Preserve (formerly known as the Big Tree 40 Acquisition Project) since 2021. The property had been listed for sale previously; fortunately, Alachua Conservation Trust stepped in and made an offer before it went back on the market. With a strong conservation record across 22 counties, Alachua Conservation Trust currently protects over 70,000 acres of Florida land in partnership with other organizations and has opened 16 public parks and preserves offering free recreational access.

Alachua Conservation Trust plans to restore the property and is exploring options to open portions of it to the public for passive recreation such as hiking, biking, and nature observation. Plans may also include potential connections to Ichetucknee Springs State Park in the future.

• Total Transaction Cost: $264,372
• Atira Conservation Funding: $40,000