Forest Investment Associates (FIA) is proud to contribute to the expansion of the Bear Creek Forest Florida Forever Project, a transformative conservation initiative that plans to permanently protect more than 85,000 acres within the Florida Wildlife Corridor. FIA has collaborated with the State of Florida to agree on the sale of 12,243 acres from the Bear Creek Timber Company, part of an approximately 95,573-acre working forest, to support the project’s wildlife corridor development.
We believe this noteworthy transaction highlights FIA’s dedication, ensuring the protection of vital natural resources, while providing an attractive exit on a portion of the Bear Creek Timber Company estate.
Stewardship Legacy at Bear Creek
The Bear Creek Forest property, located in Calhoun, Bay, and Guld counties, is home to diverse ecosystems, including pine forests, wetlands, and floodplains. These habitats are crucial for wildlife such as the gopher tortoise, the Florida black bear, and potentially to threatened and endangered plant species like the dark-headed hatpins flower and reticulated flatwoods salamander.
FIA has managed the Bear Creek property since 2004 on behalf of an institutional investment client. During this time, the property has achieved several milestones in stewardship that have contributed to its overall landscape conservation and ecological resilience. These accomplishments include certification under the Sustainable Forestry Initiative and the establishment of a habitat mitigation bank on more than 3,000 acres, which has successfully restored native ecosystems and enhanced biodiversity.
In addition, Bear Creek Timber Company has been the host of one of the largest reforestation initiatives, following destruction from Hurricane Michael in 2018. More than 37,000 acres were reforested in the years since.
“Having stewarded Bear Creek as a working forest with an important role in this region, we are honored to see these 12,000+ acres transition contributes to ownership this ambitious conservation program,” explained Chad Lincoln, FIA’s Southern Operations Manager. “Working forests throughout Florida provide wildlife habitat, support landscape-level resilience, and promote healthy watersheds, all while also supplying timber to local mills. Seeing this portion of Bear Creek formally enter the Florida Forever Project is an attestation to the importance of sustainable timberlands in the state’s conservation priorities.”
Collaboration for Conservation
Collaboration among private landowners, state agencies, and nonprofits is often essential to deliver good land conservation outcomes. As part of this conservation land sale, FIA worked closely with several partners, including:
- The Florida Department of Environmental Protection
- The Florida Forest Service
- The Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation
- The Northwest Florida Sentinel Landscape Partnership
Together, we facilitated the transfer of this property to Florida Forever, a program dedicated to conserving Florida’s most important natural areas. The land will now be managed by the Florida Forest Service, ensuring its ecological and community benefits remain for generations.
“As investment managers focused on sustainable forestry, FIA believes we have a meaningful role to play in contributing to collaborative conservation goals,” explained Jamie Ulmer, Director of Portfolio Management. “We acquired Bear Creek on behalf of an institutional investor and are pleased to realize a positive investment outcome through the sale while contributing to Florida Forever and maintaining our own long-term management of the remaining scaled timberlands. We see this opportunity as mutually beneficial for our client and for the people and wildlife of Florida.”
Why It Matters
The Bear Creek Forest delivers lasting benefits to Northwest Florida, ensuring the preservation of vital ecosystems while supporting local communities and industries. The land also plays a critical role in safeguarding water resources that flow into Deer Point and St. Andrew Bay, which are essential for drinking water and flood prevention in the region. Additionally, it offers opportunities for recreation and education, connecting people to the natural beauty of the Florida peninsula.
The Bear Creek Forest Florida Forever Project highlights FIA’s dedication to collaborative partnerships and sustainable land stewardship. We are proud to contribute to initiatives that protect natural resources, preserve biodiversity, and create opportunities for communities to flourish alongside working forests. This sale of a portion of our Bear Creek Timber Company reflects FIA’s belief that conservation and beneficial investment outcomes go hand in hand.
