Florida forestry official questioned DeSantis-backed swap of forest to golf company
WITHLACOOCHEE STATE FOREST — Over the thrumming of insects and the squawking of blue jays perched high in sand pines, heavy machinery roared nearby.
Bordering this wedge-shaped stretch of state forest in Hernando County is Cabot Citrus Farms, a luxury golf resort that’s making upgrades. The company hopes to draw people from around the world to tee off on its courses and fill multi-million dollar homes.
And it wants to expand. Following a request from the company, the Florida Cabinet — which includes Gov. Ron DeSantis — quietly approved giving Cabot Citrus 324 adjacent acres of state forest, some of it harboring threatened species. The Cabinet’s June 12 discussion, which lasted less than 30 seconds, did not mention golf courses nor the state forest where more could be built. There was no debate, no public comment. No mention of endangered wildlife.
In return, Cabot would buy 861 acres of timber land about 50 miles northwest in Cedar Key to give to the state — land that largely consists of rows of planted pines with limited biodiversity.