The Florida Wildlife Corridor stretches from the Everglades to Georgia and west to Alabama. Its conservation helps ensure Florida’s wildlife populations are connected and protected and was developed to create incentives for sustaining and conserving the green infrastructure. As a foundation of Florida’s economy and quality of life, the Corridor includes nearly 18 million acres with 46% identified as Opportunity Areas, or areas of the Corridor yet-to-be-conserved.
Through an agreement with Archbold Biological Station, the Central Florida RPC identified Florida Wildlife Corridor Opportunity Areas within the Heartland counties of DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Okeechobee, and Polk with the potential for near-term development. Data collected and analyzed to inform the report included building permits, zoning changes, land suitability, generalized future land use, existing infrastructure relevant to future development, and development entitlements. Activities included coordination with State agencies, non-profit organizations, and landowners to identify Opportunity Areas potentially available for acquisition, voluntary conservation easements, or those requiring coordination to support new development or redevelopment projects.
