Conservation Foundation is Connecting Protected Land for People and Nature

March 13, 2024 – Osprey

Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast is delighted to announce their 20th Anniversary March spotlight, Creating Corridors for Wildlife and Recreation. As they celebrate twenty years of conservation and community, each month the not-for-profit land trust is spotlighting a different aspect of their work and the corresponding community impact. This 20th Anniversary spotlight series is generously sponsored by Elizabeth Moore.

“One of our top priorities when evaluating opportunities for conservation is connectivity,” comments Christine P. Johnson, president of Conservation Foundation. “By linking conserved properties and connecting protected landscapes, we create corridors, which are critical to the future of both people and nature.”

Corridors of protected land give wildlife the space they need. These corridors increase survival for numerous at-risk species, including the Florida panther and Florida black bear, by reconnecting isolated populations and increasing access to food and shelter. Corridors are also essential in supporting human well-being, sustaining healthy ecosystems, and fostering sustainable development for present and future generations.

The Southwest Florida Wildlife Corridor is Conservation Foundation’s regional corridor initiative stretching from Tampa Bay down to the Everglades. To date, Conservation Foundation has protected almost 20,000 acres, of which almost 18,000 are within this corridor.

Tremendous amounts of funding are available from local, state, and federal government programs to conserve priority lands falling within corridor focus areas. By partnering with willing landowners to find the best ways to conserve their land, Conservation Foundation creatively and collaboratively protects the natural areas and working lands essential to the future of Southwest Florida.

To learn more about the Southwest Florida Wildlife Corridor and how, together with their conservation community, Conservation Foundation is creating corridors for wildlife and recreation, visit conservationfoundation.com/marchspotlight.