Nokuse
Land Conservancy

Restoring landscapes. Reconnecting habitats. Protecting Florida’s natural heritage.

Who is

NokuseLand Conservancy

Nokuse Preserve is a 56,258-acre private nature preserve in Walton County, Northwest Florida, owned and managed by Nokuse Land Conservancy. As the largest private conservation project east of the Mississippi River, Nokuse protects land within one of the most biologically diverse regions in the country.

Located in an ecological hotspot of the Southeast, Nokuse restores native ecosystems that were reduced by decades of agriculture, forestry, and development. The preserve also serves as a critical conservation corridor linking major protected lands across the Florida Panhandle and southern Alabama.

Our mission is to restore healthy, functioning ecosystems that support native plants and wildlife - now and for generations to come.

Through science-driven restoration and collaboration with private partners and public agencies, Nokuse demonstrates large-scale conservation in action. More than 10,000 Walton County students each year receive curriculum-based environmental education on Nokuse lands through partnerships with local schools and the adjoining E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center.
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What We Do

Nokuse advances conservation through ecosystem restoration, species recovery, education, and responsible public access. Our work is grounded in research and adaptive management, with a focus on rebuilding resilient natural systems.

  • Restoration Projects
  • Gopher Tortoise Conservation
  • Wetlands Mitigation
  • Threatened & Endangered Species
  • Recreation & Public Access
  • Education & Outreach

Conservation In Action

Explore the work happening across Nokuse through key initiatives that protect land, recover species, and restore natural processes.

Restoration

Restoration Projects

Nokuse restores historic longleaf pine ecosystems, native groundcover, wetlands, and wildlife habitat through reforestation, prescribed fire, invasive species management, and hydrologic restoration.

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Gopher Tortoise Conservation

Nokuse is permitted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission as a long-term relocation site for gopher tortoises displaced by development across Florida. With an authorized agent on staff, Nokuse provides full consulting services, including surveys, permitting, and relocation.

Gopher tortoises are a keystone species whose burrows support hundreds of other animals. Since 2006, Nokuse has helped relocate more than 3,800 tortoises to permanently protected habitat.

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Learn About Seven Runs
Gopher Tortoise
Threatened and Endangered Species

Threatened & Endangered Species

Nokuse supports a remarkable diversity of rare plants and animals. To date, 44 species listed as rare, threatened, or endangered by state and federal agencies have been documented on the preserve.

Ongoing monitoring and habitat restoration help safeguard species across amphibian, reptile, bird, mammal, and plant communities.

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Nokuse Wetlands Mitigation Bank

The Nokuse Plantation Mitigation Bank is a 2,206-acre conservation site providing wetland mitigation credits for permitted impacts within its service area. Revenue from credit sales is reinvested directly into long-term land conservation, habitat restoration, and ecological management across the Nokuse landscape.

Nokuse Wetlands

Recreation & Education

Nokuse provides public access through 20 miles of hiking along the Florida National Scenic Trail, offering immersive experiences across northwest Florida’s wetland and upland ecosystems.

Educational programs - including workshops, field trips, guided hikes, and outreach events - connect students, professionals, nonprofits, and community groups with conservation in action.

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Conservation, Stewardship & Mitigation Support

Large-scale conservation is only possible when private landowners are empowered to participate. Nokuse provides guidance, resources, and practical support for landowners interested in preserving the ecological value of their property. Whether someone is seeking formal protection options, or simply looking to care for their land more sustainably, Nokuse serves as a trusted partner in the process.

Our team assists with:

  • Understanding conservation easements
  • Habitat restoration opportunities
  • Land management strategies grounded in ecological science
  • Connections to conservation partners and technical resources

The Nokuse Plantation Mitigation Bank is a 2,206-acre conservation site in southeastern Walton County, Florida. It provides wetland compensatory mitigation credits for permitted impacts within its approved Mitigation Service Area.

Revenue from mitigation credit sales is reinvested directly into long-term land conservation, habitat restoration, and ecological management across the broader Nokuse landscape.

Available Credit Types

  • State jurisdictional wetlands
    • Wet Prairie
    • Wet Flatwoods
    • Mixed Forested / Hardwood
  • Federal wetlands
    • Palustrine credits

How to Purchase Mitigation Credits

  1. Wetland Delineation & Impact Assessment
     Engage a qualified environmental consultant to delineate wetlands and assess project impacts.
  2. Permitting & UMAM Evaluation
     Your consultant will coordinate with agencies to determine mitigation credit requirements.
  3. Submit a Credit Purchase Application
     Complete the Purchase Application Form and email it to request a reservation letter.
  4. Purchase Agreement & Reservation Letter
     After a signed agreement and deposit, Nokuse will issue a reservation letter for permitting.
  5. Final Credit Withdrawal
     Once your permit is issued, credits are officially withdrawn and reported to the agency.
*Reservation letters and pricing are valid for one year. Extension requests should be submitted at least 30 days prior to expiration.

The PeopleBehind the Mission

Nokuse’s work is led by conservation professionals and field staff specializing in restoration ecology, wildlife management, forestry, prescribed fire, wetland mitigation, and rare species recovery. Their expertise ensures every project is guided by sound science and long-term stewardship.

Executive Director

Matt Aresco

Meet Matt!
Dr. Matthew J. Aresco graduated from Florida State University in May 2005 with a PhD in Biological Science and has an M.S. in Zoology from Auburn University (1998). He has an undergraduate degree in English from Fairfield University in Connecticut (1985). After graduating from Fairfield University, he worked for four years at the Connecticut National Mortgage Company and three years at the Connecticut National Bank in the Trust and Estate Department. At Auburn University, Aresco studied the effect of slash pine plantations on the movements and growth rates of gopher tortoises in the Conecuh National Forest. At Florida State University, Dr. Aresco studied lake ecology and lake food webs and the role of freshwater turtles in the food web. Since 2006, Dr. Aresco has been the Director of Nokuse Plantation, a 51,000 acre privately-owned wildlife preserve in Walton County, Florida owned by Mr. M.C. Davis.
 
Dr. Aresco is an expert in restoration ecology and directs the ecological restoration of this property, converting pine plantations and agricultural areas back to the native longleaf pine-wiregrass ecosystem, conducting prescribed burns, and re-establishing and augmenting populations of rare species. A highlight of his work at Nokuse Plantation is a gopher tortoise restoration project which has provided safe refuge on the preserve for over 4,000 gopher tortoises relocated from sites throughout Florida slated for development. The research project associated with these relocations has helped guide the State’s new permitting requirements for gopher tortoise relocation. Dr. Aresco is an expert in the population biology and conservation of Florida turtles and has conducted long-term research on the Florida softshell turtle, Florida snapping turtle, Florida cooter, and gopher tortoise in northwest Florida. He is a member of the IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group. Dr. Aresco is the founder of the Lake Jackson Eco-passage Alliance which worked with the Florida Department of Transportation and local government to ensure the construction of wildlife crossings on U.S. Highway 27 at Lake Jackson in Tallahassee, the first wildlife crossings built in northwest Florida. Dr. Aresco is the primary author on 15 peer-reviewed scientific publications and four book chapters.

Wildlife Biologist

CharliMorgan

Meet Charli!

Charli Morgan is a wildlife biologist at Nokuse Land Conservancy located in Walton County FL. A devoted advocate for conservation and biodiversity preservation, Charli spent her early years exploring upstate New York, guiding backpacking and kayaking trips, and later earning her degree in Biology and Philosophy. Prior to her start in Florida, she worked on the Acorn Woodpecker Project in California. Since arriving at Nokuse in 2024, Charli has gained valuable experience in the many facets of running a conservation and restoration operation of this scale. Her work has included close involvement in the Gopher Tortoise translocation program, avian monitoring, managing GIS tasks, and contributing to the design of projects. Her goal is to advance the assessment of the avian community structure at Nokuse through the integration of Motus tracking technology and long-term monitoring.

Operations

Derek Breakfield

Meet Derek!
Derek serves as the Operations Director for Nokuse Land Conservancy, where he leads
research support, field operations, and large-scale conservation initiatives across
Nokuse’s more than 55,000 acres. With over a decade of experience in ecological
restoration, he has built a career rooted in adaptive management, data-driven decision-
making, and translating ecological science into practical results. His background
includes ecological study design, long-term monitoring, statistical analysis, and
managing complex conservation projects from planning through implementation. Derek
is driven by a commitment to restoring and protecting the longleaf pine ecosystem and
improving long-term outcomes for wildlife and the landscapes they depend on.

Take Action

Whether you’re interested in protecting your land, learning about our conservation work, or supporting stewardship across the Southeast, we’d love to connect.

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