Partners2023-10-16T12:20:05-04:00

PARTNERS

Supporting innovative land conservation projects in the Florida Wildlife Corridor

Corridor Connect 2023

Corridor Connect: Ecology + Economy for a Better Florida brought together leaders from the business and conservation community to look for solutions and identify ways to help balance Florida’s growth while also protecting the remaining half-million acres of critical Corridor links that are at risk of development by 2030. Thank you to the 500+ attendees across 200+ partner organizations who came together to connect, build solutions, and amplify the Corridor movement!

2023 Main Stage Speakers
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Payments for Ecosystem Services

Over the past year a group of landowner representatives, agency staff, and conservation leaders met to discuss and make recommendations for Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) programs to secure the Florida Wildlife Corridor. The group worked from a common understanding of PES:

“Payment for Ecosystem Services is a voluntary agreement that allows public agencies or private interests to make payments that secure from a landowner provision and improvement of clearly defined specific ecosystem services and provide incentives to the landowner to continue and improve land uses that are both economically sustainable and beneficial to the environment.”

The discussions and recommendations are published in a report. People interested in the topic of how to use PES programs to help conserve land while retaining agricultural practices are encouraged to read the full report.

Download the Full Report

Scientific Research, Reports and Legislation

Wildlife Corridors Conservation Act of 2019 – Senate Bill 1499
Wildlife Corridors Conservation Act of 2019 – House of Representatives Bill 2795
Florida Wildlife Corridor Act of 2021
Florida 2070 Special Report (2016, 2017)
Potential Impacts of the Southwest-Central Florida Connector on the Florida Panther and Its Habitat (TNC, 2020)
The Bear Essentials (Jason Totoiu, Everglades Law Center, 2017)
Assessment of the distribution of Florida panthers north of the Caloosahatchee River (2020)

Landowner & Land Aquisition Resources

There are 7 million acres of working lands (ranchlands and timberlands) in the Corridor, nearly 40% of the Corridor. Of these 7 million acres, 13% are conserved lands. There are 3.2 million acres of ranchlands in the Corridor, or 18% of the Corridor. 18% of ranchlands are currently conserved lands. There are 3.8 million acres of timberlands in the Corridor, or 22% of the Corridor. 9% of timberlands are currently conserved lands. Note – In this analysis, timberlands do not include land managed for timber in State or National Forests. Of the Corridor’s 8.1 million acres of opportunity areas, 33% are ranchlands and 43% are timberlands.

If you are a landowner interested in helping do you part in protecting wild Florida, the resources below may be able to help.

Rural and Family Lands Protection Program
Florida Forever Program
Florida Forever Fact Sheet
Florida Communities Trust
Watercolor cartoon image of a cowboy riding a horse with a dog standing next to him.
Florida Communities Trust Fact Sheet
Land and Water Conservation Fund
Learn how to become a part of the Florida’s network of greenways and trails
Landowner Assistance Program

Partners protecting the Corridor

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