Connecting Florida’s Wildest Places: 4 Wildlife Wins

A black bear searching for a mate. An ancient turtle hunting the depths of a river. A manatee migrating to warmer waters. These animals may live in very different habitats, but they have something important in common: Their survival depends on healthy, connected landscapes.

When you picture a wildlife corridor, you might imagine a narrow strip of land helping animals cross a highway. But what if that corridor stretched across an entire state? That’s the vision behind the Florida Wildlife Corridor — an 18-million-acre network of forests, farms, and waterways stretching from the Panhandle to the Everglades. Adopted by state lawmakers in 2021, this ambitious initiative aims to keep wildlife habitats connected while protecting clean water and access to nature.

While nearly 10 million acres in the corridor have been permanently protected, more than 40% remains at risk. And an estimated 60,000 acres of that at-risk land are lost to development each year. The Conservation Fund is working to protect these at-risk lands that wildlife depend on.

Working closely with our partners, The Conservation Fund has conserved more than 200,000 acres across Florida, with over 80% located within the corridor. Each yellow dot above represents a place we’ve helped protect. The following are just four stories of how these lands impact Florida’s most remarkable wildlife.

Big Bend | 78,000+ acres protected

With powerful jaws, a spiked shell, and a tongue that lures prey like a fishing worm, the Suwannee alligator snapping turtle looks like something from the age of dinosaurs. Found only in the Suwannee River basin, this federally threatened species depends on healthy freshwater habitats, including submerged tree roots for shelter, clean water for feeding, and riverbanks for nesting. Most recently, The Conservation Fund helped protect more than 13,000 acres of forestland bordering the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge. This was the latest in a series of projects totaling over 78,000 acres, which safeguard forests and wetlands that help maintain the water quality and natural river conditions these remarkable turtles need to survive. Learn more.

Suwannee River Woodlands | 24,000 acres protected

Unlike most woodpeckers, red-cockaded woodpeckers carve their nests into living, mature pine trees. But the longleaf pine forests these federally threatened birds depend on have been disappearing for decades. Most recently, we protected over 7,000 acres within Osceola National Forest. Now managed by the U.S. Forest Service, this land is being restored to its historic longleaf pine ecosystem, strengthening critical habitat for these remarkable birds. Learn more.

Ocala-to-Osceola Wildlife Corridor | 1,083 acres protected

Florida’s black bears have made a remarkable comeback since nearly disappearing in the 1960s. Although no longer listed as threatened, habitat fragmentation continues to jeopardize their recovery. In 2025, we protected a critical property within the 100-mile Ocala-to-Osceola Wildlife Corridor, helping maintain a vital connection between two of Florida’s largest bear populations. This protected land gives bears more room to roam, find food, and connect with potential mates. Learn more.

Lake Wimico | 18,000 acres protected

Florida’s iconic manatees depend on connected waterways to migrate between warm-water refuges in winter and feeding grounds in warmer months. But habitat loss and declining water quality are impacting these federally threatened mammals. We recently protected 10,000 acres of forestland at Lake Wimico, safeguarding important manatee migration routes along the adjacent Intracoastal Waterway. The forest also filters runoff and protects water quality in nearby Apalachicola Bay, benefiting manatees, federally threatened wood storks, and other wildlife. In 2026, we purchased an additional 8,000 acres that we’re in the process of permanently protecting. Learn more.

A wildlife corridor is only as strong as its connections. Every forest, farm, and waterway we protect helps keep Florida’s extraordinary wildlife moving and thriving. With millions of acres still at risk, The Conservation Fund will keep moving quickly to protect the lands that connect Florida’s wildlife — before they’re lost.

Learn How We Protect Wildlife Habitat

Learn More About Our Work In Florida

Photo credits (from top of page): James Webster, USFWS