Florida’s wildlife corridor turns 15 years old. Why is it more important than ever?

Imagine a Florida panther heading towards the Okefenokee swamp without being discovered by humans, from the Big Cypress swamp in the southwest of the state to the Okefenokee swamp, on the northern border with Florida’s Georgia.

No one has documented the Panther on this journey yet. But the evidence suggests that it happens.

The Florida Panthers were once distributed to most of the southeastern United States, but now they are only a small number, perhaps 200 or so. And the known breeding range has been significantly reduced, and is now concentrated in southwest Florida.

They appear in North Florida and Georgia as young men travel north to escape social pressure from adult men. Biologists have discovered that their tracks are not too south from Okefenokey. One Panther approached Atlanta before being shot by a hunter.

Large mammals such as the Florida Panther and Black Bear literally need room to roam to hunt, breed and thrive. Such a journey across Florida is possible thanks to the Florida Wildlife Corridor, a statewide system of interconnected wildlife habitats, which will turn 15 this year.

The Florida Wildlife Corridor was built on conservation efforts dating back to the 1980s and 1990s, when researchers from the University of Florida, including us two and our mentor Larry Harris, created maps of existing and proposed conservation areas that worked together throughout the state.

Today, Florida’s wildlife corridors cover 18 million acres, about half the state’s state.

Of these acres, 10 million are protected from development. They are either local, state, local, or federal public conservation sites, or private conservation easements. These easements limit the landowners’ land use to activities compatible with wildlife conservation, such as ranches, timber production and other sustainable activities.

The other 8 million acres are the focus of state-funded land conservation efforts to close unprotected gaps. For now, these lands can be converted into intensive residential, commercial or industrial development.

The corridor is an ambitious conservation project. It provides sufficient habitat to maintain healthy wildlife populations and protects Florida’s key ecosystem services, including water quality and flood storage. Ecosystem services refer to the benefits that ecosystems offer to humans.

The corridors are also a unique example of how science can combine public education and outreach to protect important natural habitats.

Florida’s population boom

Until the early 20th century, Florida was the most remote and undeveloped state on the East Coast.

After World War II and the introduction of affordable home air conditioning, Florida has transformed from a sleepy winter holiday destination to the country’s third most populous state.

Currently, around 300,000 new residents move to Florida every year.

With this population growth, natural habitats and country scenery have been rapidly lost. Using federal land use data, we calculate that approximately 60,000 acres of Florida habitat is lost each year.

Florida’s development was initially concentrated along the coast, particularly in areas with vast beaches. With the opening of tourist attractions such as Disney World near Orlando in 1971, Central Florida has also become a hub for rapid growth.

Concerns for Floridians have revealed that virtually all land not protected by permanent conservation designations could ultimately be lost to urban and suburban sprawls.

In response to these concerns, Florida has become a leader in land conservation. This was generally popular and bipartisan in the states of the Sun.

Since the 1970s, Florida has protected millions of acres of reserves through programs that include the 1990 Florida Preservation 2000 Act, the Florida Eternal Acquisition Program, which replaces it in 2001, and the Rural and Family Land Conservation Program created in 2001.

Scientists identify important areas to protect

Wildlife biologists since the 1930s have observed how birds and mammals use wooded fencerows, hedges, streams and other natural corridors to travel through agricultural areas in the United States and Canada.

When the corridors are protected, animals can move safely across the landscape, saving them from extinction. It also provides people with ecosystem services such as clean water and flood protection.

Since 1995, Florida’s Ecology Greenways Network (FEGN) has identified a statewide system that connects large, intact natural areas with green spaces. It is now part of the Florida Greenways and Trail System held in the state, a statewide network of recreational trails and ecological corridors.

As conservation scientists deeply involved in FEGN, we were able to capitalize on the state’s early investments in geographic information systems. GIS generates digital maps and other high-quality data on wildlife habitats and other locations of conservation priorities.

We continue to work with state agencies and other partners to continuously update FEGN as land use changes and to ensure better data and tools are available to identify areas of preservation priorities.

Let the public take on

FEGN proved to be fundamental to supporting state conservation programs, but it was not widely known to Floridians and state visitors.

In 2010, conservation photographer Carlton Ward and colleagues proposed a simple, unified map and public campaign to promote protection of Florida’s Ecological Greenways Network’s highest advantage.

Ward called it the Florida Wildlife Corridor.

He organized a team of photographers, videographers and scientists who trekked across a large strip of corridors to document the natural ecosystems and native species of Florida, which were threatened by development.

Expeditioners highlighted species such as the Florida Panther, Florida Black Bear, and Florida Grass Hopper Sparrow. They raised awareness of the connections between corridors and water conservation, the land managed by ranchers and foresters, and recreational opportunities. And they produced documentary films, media, social media coverage, public talks and events, educated the public about the importance of protecting hallways.

Bipartisan support continues

In June 2021, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed the law on Florida’s Wildlife Corridor Act. The legislation, which gained unanimous support from the state legislature, officially acknowledged the important role of corridors in the protection of Florida’s economic, cultural and natural heritage, as well as the ordered species and ecosystem.

The law also reclaimed legislative support and funds to acquire land directly for conservation and establish conservation easements on private land.

The 2025-2026 Florida budget, which is still under negotiation, has earned between US$300 million and $450 million for the Land Conservation Program.

And on April 23, 2025, the Florida Senate passed a resolution declaring Florida’s Wildlife Corridor Day on April 22. The resolution “confirmed the importance of the corridor as a “unique natural resource” essential to maintaining the green infrastructure that is the foundation of the state’s economy and quality of life.

Competing with the fast-growing population leaves much to protect the land. However, Florida has proven it is ready to implement a science-based strategy and work with aspiring landowners to protect the statewide wildlife corridor as a key component of Florida’s future.

Florida’s Wildlife Corridor is also a potential model for other states and regions who want to protect viable wildlife populations and ecosystem services.

Thomas Hochter is an associate professor of research in landscape architecture at the University of Florida. Reed Fredericknos is the conservation science coordinator for UF.