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New Leader, Familiar Face

Renowned Conservationist Mallory Lykes Dimmitt Named CEO, Following Landmark Legislation Establishing Florida Wildlife Corridor

Florida Wildlife Corridor2021-08-05T09:10:21-04:00August 5th, 2021|Categories: Press Release|

Expertise and advocacy add to Corridor Coalition’s proud record of combining conservation science with compelling imagery and storytelling [...]

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Director of Operations & Finance

Senior Administrative Assistant

WHY SAVE THE CORRIDOR?

Protecting Florida’s Diverse Wildlife

The network of habitat connections which sustain our best wild places is at risk. If we wish to save wild Florida, and the near 700 imperiled species it supports, including our beloved Florida bear, we must protect the Florida Wildlife Corridor.

Florida’s population is growing fast, adding a million new residents every three years. The growth puts a strain on natural resources and habitat connections.

Watch The Wild Divide

Our latest Expedition short film

By horseback, foot, and paddleboard three friends trek across Florida’s imperiled backbone. The Lake Wales Ridge is an ancient ribbon of sand dunes that is a hotspot for biodiversity found nowhere else in the world. It is also a place steeped in a long tradition of agricultural heritage. Both are threatened by the rapid pace of change in Florida’s wild interior. But can the backbone be held together? To experience this place and to meet the passionate stewards who call it home offers insight and inspiration on how we may one day bridge The Wild Divide.

WHAT WE DO

About the Organization

Our Mission is to champion a collaborative campaign to permanently connect, protect and restore the Florida Wildlife Corridor. We combine conservation science with compelling imagery and rich storytelling to heighten the visibility of the Florida Wildlife Corridor and inspire its protection. Through education and citizen engagement, the Florida Wildlife Corridor Coalition advocates for the protection of the missing links needed to connect conservation lands in the Corridor. Our efforts elevate the tremendous work of our many conservation partners. Our Florida Wildlife Corridor Expeditions result in documentaries, books, videos and vivid photographic presentations that introduce these natural areas to Florida residents and visitors of all ages.

Conservation Science

Gaining knowledge & understanding to protect Florida’s endangered species.

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Rich
Storytelling

Raising awareness through exclusive imagery & award-winning documentaries.

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For Cause

Dedicated to permanently connecting, protecting & restoring the corridor.

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Our Corridor By The Numbers

18 MILLION ACRES OF LAND

The Florida Wildlife Corridor encompasses nearly 17.7 million acres – 9.6 million acres (54%) that are already protected and 8.1 million acres (46%) of remaining opportunity areas that do not have conservation status.

MILLIONS OF ACRES ARE RANCHES & TIMBERLAND

Of the 17.7 million acres the Florida Wildlife Corridor encompasses, 7 million acres are composed of working lands – ranchlands and timberlands. These working lands are a vital component to conservation in Florida.

Of the 8.1 million acres of opportunity area, 33% are ranchlands and 43% are timberlands.

CERTAIN LANDS ARE HIGHER PRIORITY

There are state and federal programs that identify high priority projects in the state of Florida – Florida Forever and Rural and Family Lands Protection Program.

There are 1.8 million acres of proposed Florida Forever projects in the Corridor, which accounts for 22% of Corridor opportunity areas.

There are 163,000 acres of proposed Tier 1 Rural and Family Lands Protection Program (RFLPP) projects in the Corridor. 86% of these 163,000 acres lie within the Corridor.

PROTECTED LAND BREAKDOWN BY OWNERSHIP

Protected areas include 4.2 million acres of federal land, 5.7 million acres of state land, 518 thousand acres of county and city land and 311 thousand acres of private land with permanent conservation status..

THE EFFECTS OF HABITAT LOSS

Habitat loss and fragmentation are primary drivers of plant and animal population declines. The Florida Wildlife Corridor provides essential habitat and connectivity for many of Florida’s 131 imperiled animals and 567 imperiled plants.

THREATENED & ENDANGERED SPECIES

The Florida Wildlife Corridor helps protect the habitats of Florida’s threatened and endangered species. This includes iconic wildlife such as Crested Caracara, Snail Kite, Florida Grasshopper Sparrow, Florida Scrub-Jay, Red-Cockaded Woodpecker, Whooping Crane, Wood Stork, Florida Panther, West Indian Manatee, Gulf Sturgeon, Okaloosa Darter, Sand Skink, and Eastern Indigo Snake.

WATERWAYS WITHIN THE CORRIDOR

There are 1,346 named rivers and streams crossing the Corridor that include 1,683 miles of designated paddling trails. There are also 6,273 miles of trails within the Corridor; including 1,085 miles of the Florida National Scenic Trail.

STATE PARKS & FORESTS

The Corridor includes 75 Florida State Park and 32 State Forests.

SPRINGS WITHIN THE CORRIDOR

The Corridor includes 171 first and second magnitude springs and portions of 23 of Florida’s 30 Outstanding Springs springsheds are in the Corridor.

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Connecting to Protect Our Precious Ecosystem

The Florida Wildlife Corridor Coalition champions the public and partner support needed to permanently connect, protect and restore the Florida Wildlife Corridor – a statewide network of lands and waters that supports wildlife and people. Our organization has trekked 1,000 miles across Florida – twice – to demonstrate the need and opportunity to connect wild places in Florida.

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Raising Awareness Through Community Involvement

HOW YOU CAN HELP?

Donate To The Cause

The Florida Wildlife Corridor seeks to bring partners and people together to accomplish the shared goal of permanently connecting, protecting and restoring the Corridor. With your donation, we will develop engaging outreach and educational programming for youth and adults, deliver key messages to citizens and officials to increase conservation funding, and aggressively pursue conservation and restoration in priority locations within the Corridor.

All donations to the Florida Wildlife Corridor are tax-deductible and go directly to the Florida Wildlife Corridor public awareness campaign.

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