March was an impactful month at the Corridor Foundation, with our team working across some of the most critical geographies of the Florida Wildlife Corridor, bringing partners together, celebrating conservation progress, and deepening our connection to the landscape.

We began on the Nature Coast hosting a Mind The Gaps mapping workshop focused on finding solutions to urgent and vulnerable conservation gaps within the region. Then we headed across the state to the Space Coast to celebrate the groundbreaking of a new trailhead at Toshatchee WMA with the support of Disney and other partners.

Later in the month, we gathered in the center of the state along the Lake Wales Ridge for a board and staff meeting at Archbold Biological Station. There, we saw world-class research in action, experienced the region’s unique geography and biodiversity, and toured Buck Island Ranch, a powerful example of how science, stewardship, and working lands come together across the Corridor.

Back in St. Petersburg, we are continuing to tell the story of these places in new and exciting ways like our upcoming gallery exhibition, “(Un)Natural Geographies: The Maps of Ibrahim Miranda and Erin Oliver,” and the launch of our new website designed to bring more visibility to our work across the Corridor.

As we look ahead, our focus shifts north to the Apalachee region around Tallahasee for our Longleaf to Lighthouse Expedition—a five-day journey from the Red Hills to the Gulf. We’re excited to announce that for the first time local elected officials are joining us as trekkers, stepping into the landscapes they help shape through policy and decision-making.

I encourage you to read more about the updates below, and we hope you consider joining us in Thomasville, Geogria on April 21st for a community bike ride through the Red Hills to launch the Longleaf to Lighthouse Expedition.

In Connection,
Mallory
—
Mallory Dimmitt
CEO
Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation

Longleaf to Lighthouse Expedition Trekker Announcement:

 We’re thrilled to announce we have selected our team of trekkers for our upcoming Longleaf to Lighthouse Expedition and documentary film! In just a few weeks, they’ll embark on a week-long journey through the critical Corridor connection between the Red Hills of north Florida and the Gulf.

The expedition brings together four local elected officials selected for their connection to wild Florida and their interest in learning more about the Corridor. Polk County Commissioner Becky Troutman, Tallahassee City Commissioner Jack Porter, Leon County Commissioner Rick Minor, and Lake County Commissioner Sean Parks will venture out of their meeting rooms and into the Corridor itself, experiencing firsthand the lands and waters they help shape through their decisions.

Along the journey, they’ll be joined by landowners, scientists, and storytellers who will help deepen their understanding of the connected land and the decisions that guide its future.

Learn more about the trekkers and the expedition at the link here.

Longleaf to Lighthouse Expedition Launch & Community Bike Ride In Thomasville Georgia:

Join us on Tuesday, April 21st at the beautiful Paradise Park in downtown Thomasville, Georgia to launch the Longleaf to Lighthouse Expedition. Enjoy coffee and bagels with Mayor Scott Chastain and other community leaders as you hear about the important role Georgia plays in the Florida Wildlife Corridor vision.

Then, grab your bike and join our four trekkers as we officially launch the expedition with a community bike ride led by renowned cyclist Karlos Bernart. This 20-mile round-trip journey winds through the scenic paved and clay roads of the Red Hills, offering a unique way to experience this remarkable landscape firsthand.

Bring your bike, invite a friend, and be part of the launch. Learn more and reserve your spot at the link here.

Tosohatchee Trailhead Groundbreaking:

In March we joined collaborators at Trust for Public Land, Florida Trail Association, Disney, Orange County, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at Tosohtchee Wildlife Management Area to celebrate the groundbreaking of a new trailhead along the Florida National Scenic Trail with the goal of expanding access to the outdoors in underserved communities. 

The new trailhead on the north side of Tosohatchee WMA is planned for opening in 2027. It is the first step in a two-year collaboration supported by the Disney Conservation Fund that will establish at least five official trailheads throughout the state, connecting the public to the Florida Wildlife Corridor.

The groundbreaking marks a milestone in collaborative efforts to support Florida’s trail network and provide outdoor experiences that promote health, community, and connection to nature.

Read more about the trailhead collaboration at the link here.

New Website Launch:

This month, we launched our newly redesigned website, featuring interactive maps, films, upcoming events, and expanded opportunities to get involved in our mission to connect, protect, and restore the Florida Wildlife Corridor.

Click the link here to explore our new website and learn more about our work.

Florida Forever Secures Bar-B Ranch Conservation Easement:

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has secured a 1,668-acre conservation easement over Bar-B Ranch in Martin County through the Florida Forever Program, protecting a working cattle ranch that improves water quality and supports Everglades restoration while remaining in agricultural production.

Located in the Florida Wildlife Corridor near the C-44 Stormwater Treatment Area and Allapattah Flats Wildlife Management Area, Bar-B Ranch has been operated as a ranch for decades and will remain a working ranch while permanently preventing future development.

Bar-B Ranch helps store and filter water before it reaches downstream ecosystems, including the St. Lucie River Estuary, the Indian River Lagoon, Lake Okeechobee and ultimately the Greater Everglades. Protecting this land ensures its natural ability to store and cleanse water remains intact while preventing development that could threaten these vital ecological functions. The land also provides habitat to wood stork, deer, little blue heron, roseate spoonbill, and more.

Read more about the Florida Forever conservation easement at the link here.

Board Meeting & Staff Outing At Archbold Biological Station:

Last week the Corridor Foundation Staff and our Board of Directors joined our partners at Archbold Biological Station for two days of exploring and learning more about the world-class research going on along the Lake Wales Ridge.

During our visit, we had the opportunity to tour Buck Island Ranch by swamp buggy, gaining a firsthand look at how working lands and conservation science intersect in real time. We also spent time inside Archbold’s plant and avian ecology labs, where researchers are studying Florida’s native species to better understand and protect them. The outing concluded with time spent in the rare rosemary scrub habitat, a globally imperiled ecosystem found only in Florida.

Special thanks to the staff at Archbold for their generous hospitality and for sharing their expertise with our team. We deeply value their partnership and the important work they are doing to advance conservation in the Corridor and beyond.

Corridor Connect+ LIVE In Ocala On May 20th:

Join us in the heart of Marion County for a special evening bringing together landowners, conservation leaders, horse farm advocates, and community members committed to keeping the Florida Wildlife Corridor connected and protected. Set against Ocala’s world-renowned horse country, this convening will explore how working lands, wildlife habitat, and vibrant rural communities can thrive together. 

Following a kickoff networking hour and partner expo, we are honored to feature keynote speaker Ben Masters, National Geographic Explorer and acclaimed filmmaker. His storytelling on wildlife connectivity, ranching heritage, and conservation stewardship reflects the collaborative spirit shaping Marion County and the Florida Wildlife Corridor. The keynote will be followed by a reception featuring a hosted bar and Florida-inspired bites. 

Throughout the evening, guests will: 

• Connect with fellow landowners and conservation partners 
• Learn about practical stewardship tools and opportunities 
• Explore how smart planning and rural land protection support both working lands and habitat 
• Engage in meaningful dialogue about the future of Marion County 

Whether you are a horse farm owner, conservation advocate, community leader, or simply passionate about Florida’s landscapes, this event offers a chance to be part of a solutions-focused conversation shaping the region’s future. 

Register today – tickets are limited and registration will close May 6th. We hope you’ll join us for this evening of partnership, purpose, and place. 

Mind The Gaps Nature Coast:

A huge thank you to all of our partners who came to our Mind The Gaps Nature Coast Mapping Workshop in Crystal River!
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Our Mind The Gaps workshops bring together local, state, & federal agencies, planners, land trusts, landowners, and other key stakeholder groups to develop solutions to complex conservation gaps in local areas.⁠
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Your dedication and willingness to collaborate inspire us and will help protect these irreplaceable lands for future generations. We’re planning these Mind The Gaps workshops for all priority counties (urgent areas within the Corridor at high risk of development conversion). Next stop? The Space Coast.

New Exhibit (Un)Natural Geographies Showing At Wild Space Gallery:

Join Wild Space Gallery on Second Saturday – April 11, 5-9 pm for the opening reception of (Un)Natural Geographies: The Maps of Ibrahim Miranda and Erin Oliver and an artist conversation from 6-7pm, moderated by Gallery Director Leslie Elsasser.  

(Un)Natural Geographies: The Maps of Ibrahim Miranda and Erin Oliver presents two international artists with distinctive approaches to cartography through the lens of Cuba and Florida. Miranda applies traditional techniques like woodcut and silkscreen printing to Cuban maps dense with scientific data, then overlays textures and figurative elements to create a visual language closer to painting. Oliver renders fluid marks onto mylar site maps of Florida’s underground karst formations and contradicts the certainty of the mapped data to evoke a corporeal experience of the physical land. 

(Un)Natural Geographies: The Maps of Ibrahim Miranda and Erin Oliver is on display at Wild Space Gallery from April 11th to May 30th.

Click the link here to RSVP for the exhibit opening. Space is limited.

Wild Space Gallery is open Wednesday through Saturday from 2-6pm.
Address: 2606 Fairfield Ave S BLDG #7, St. Petersburg, FL 33712