The Florida Wildlife Corridor is a statewide network of nearly 18 million acres of connected ecosystems containing state parks, national forests, and wildlife management areas that support wildlife and human occupation. [1] The corridor seeks to connect wildlife habitats, reducing their fragmentation and the subsequent declines in plant and animal populations caused by human activities [2] The Florida Wildlife Corridor was conceived by Tom Hoctor, director of the University of Florida's Center for Landscape and Conservation Planning, and Carlton Ward Jr., with further inspiration partly from Lawton Chiles.
The corridor is home to 60 species at risk of extinction such as the 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. [1]
The Florida Corridor Act was enacted by Florida's legislature in June 2021 to "create incentives for conservation and sustainable development," [3] recognizing the need to amend conservation efforts in view of a rapidly increasing human population. The Florida government enhances the corridor by purchasing land owners' development rights across the state through a land acquisition process from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection which allows the landowners to continue operations on their land, but prevents them from developing it. [4] [5]
Two studies found that the use of corridors created long-lasting benefits for black bear population in the state. [6] [7] Researchers compared the bear population in the Ocala National Forests to the population of a fragmented residential area of Lynne, Florida surrounded by roadways. The sites were chosen based on proximity to each other and differences in fragmentation, the Ocala National Forest falling within the area of the Florida Wildlife Corridor and city of Lynne right outside it. The bear population in Lynne was found to have a far lower growth rate than that which inhabited the national forest. The study suggested that car strikes partially contributed to the low population rate. Corridors along the highway were suggested to reduce bear mortalities. [7]
A second study, done on the Osceola-Ocala wildlife corridor, found that the it increased gene flow between two populations and provided linkages needed to maintain population structure and viability. [6]
Some Treks and Films that showcase the Florida Wildlife Corridor:
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The Florida Wildlife Corridor is a statewide network of nearly 18 million acres of connected ecosystems containing state parks, national forests, and wildlife management areas that support wildlife and human occupation. [1] The corridor seeks to connect wildlife habitats, reducing their fragmentation and the subsequent declines in plant and animal populations caused by human activities [2] The Florida Wildlife Corridor was conceived by Tom Hoctor, director of the University of Florida's Center for Landscape and Conservation Planning, and Carlton Ward Jr., with further inspiration partly from Lawton Chiles.
The corridor is home to 60 species at risk of extinction such as the 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. [1]
The Florida Corridor Act was enacted by Florida's legislature in June 2021 to "create incentives for conservation and sustainable development," [3] recognizing the need to amend conservation efforts in view of a rapidly increasing human population. The Florida government enhances the corridor by purchasing land owners' development rights across the state through a land acquisition process from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection which allows the landowners to continue operations on their land, but prevents them from developing it. [4] [5]
Two studies found that the use of corridors created long-lasting benefits for black bear population in the state. [6] [7] Researchers compared the bear population in the Ocala National Forests to the population of a fragmented residential area of Lynne, Florida surrounded by roadways. The sites were chosen based on proximity to each other and differences in fragmentation, the Ocala National Forest falling within the area of the Florida Wildlife Corridor and city of Lynne right outside it. The bear population in Lynne was found to have a far lower growth rate than that which inhabited the national forest. The study suggested that car strikes partially contributed to the low population rate. Corridors along the highway were suggested to reduce bear mortalities. [7]
A second study, done on the Osceola-Ocala wildlife corridor, found that the it increased gene flow between two populations and provided linkages needed to maintain population structure and viability. [6]
Some Treks and Films that showcase the Florida Wildlife Corridor:
{{
cite web}}
: Missing or empty |title=
(
help)
This article needs additional or more specific
categories. (November 2023) |