By Jacqueline Baylon

An environmental conservation plan for the ranching land north of Lake Okeechobee, on the outskirts of the Everglades, could help protect endangered species, including the Florida panther and black bear, officials said in a statement.

The plan, proposed by the Obama administration, would need the cooperation of private landowners and could cost as much as $700 million but would result in a new national wildlife refuge and conservation area, officials said.

“The Everglades’ rural working ranch landscapes are an important piece of our nation’s history and economy, and this initiative would work to ensure that they remain vital for our future,” Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said in a statement.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott, who has opposed government actions that infringe on private development, did not return calls for comment on the proposal.

Under the plan, Salazar’s agency would buy and protect about 50,000 acres of wildlife and would place conservation restrictions on another 100,000 acres.

The 100,000 acres of ranching land would remain in private ownership but would be protected through agreements with the owners. The lands would link to approximately 690,000 acres of partner-conserved lands.

“This is a win-win situation,” said Julie Hill-Gabriel, the co-chair of the Everglades Coalition, a group that works to restore the Everglades ecosystem. “When you have this kind of partnership, both sides benefit,” Hill-Gabriel said.

The plan would improve the water quality of Lake Okeechobee and protect fish species by conserving the environment in and around the area.

It would also protect important habitats for 88 federal and state listed species, including the whooping crane, Everglade snail kite and the Eastern indigo snake.

“Anything that we can do to improve north of the lake is essential to the protection of our ecosystem,” Hill-Gabriel said. “When our grandchildren grow up, they should have the same beauty we once had.”

Officials have not specifically said which lands would be protected or how the purchase of lands would be funded. As part of the ongoing community dialogue, the public will be invited to participate in a series of workshops on the proposal in January and February. The locations and exact dates of the workshops have not been scheduled.