Florida is expected to lose 3.5 million acres of land to development by 2070. A recent study suggests that Florida can protect itself from climate change and population pressures by preserving the remaining 8 million acres of ‘opportunity areas’ within the Florida Wildlife Corridor (FLWC), which is the only designated statewide corridor in the U.S. The study is the first to look at the interactions between the FLWC and climate change, and it found that the corridor provides significant climate resilience benefits, offering a higher return on investment than previously believed. It is worth noting that approximately 90 percent of Floridians live within 20 miles of the corridor.
In Florida, the combination of climate-related challenges such as rising temperatures and extreme weather events like hurricanes, along with increasing insurance rates, is a cause for concern. The state’s population is growing rapidly, with 1,000 new residents arriving each day, leading to a projected loss of 3.5 million acres of land to development by 2070. This development poses a threat to Florida’s future biodiversity and ecosystem services.
A unique study suggests that Florida can protect itself from the impacts of climate change and population growth by conserving.The Florida Wildlife Corridor (FLWC) has 8 million acres of “opportunity areas” remaining. Out of the 18 million acres of the FLWC, 10 million acres are already permanently conserved. This interconnected area of wildlands, working lands, and waters is the only designated statewide corridor in the United States. It is a world-class adaption plan that is dealing with climate change in a warm location. The FLWC stretches from Alabama to the Everglades and not only protects endangered species like the Florida panther but also provides economic and climate benefits to local communities.Ninety percent of people living in Florida are situated within a 20-mile radius of the corridor. The recent study, titled “The Florida Wildlife Corridor and Climate Change: Managing Florida’s Natural and Human Landscapes for Prosperity and Resilience,” was a collaborative effort by Florida Atlantic University, Archbold Biological Station, Live Wildly Foundation, and various other contributors. This report provides a comprehensive overview of the potential effects of climate change and population growth on Florida’s communities and natural resources. It also emphasizes how the FLWC, if fully implemented, can help mitigate these impacts. The report brings optimism by suggesting that both public and private entities can take action to address these issues.Florida has taken steps to safeguard its lands, waters, and communities from the most severe effects of climate change. Protecting the FLWC not only provides a refuge for wildlife from climate change and development, but also sustains jobs, economies, and essential ecosystem services like drinking water and flood protection for those living both inside and outside the corridor.
The FLWC is a crucial conservation effort designed to maintain natural landscape connectivity throughout Florida. It is the result of forty years of research, advocacy, and land conservation by agencies, landowners, and non-profit organizations that ultimately led to the passage of the FLWC Act in 2021.Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a law on July 1, 2021, with overwhelming support from both the state House and Senate. The Florida Legislature has allocated over $2.3 billion in recent years to protect its lands, showing a commitment to the connection between clean water, healthy lands, and a strong economy. Colin Polsky, Ph.D., a lead author and founding director of the FAU School of Environmental, Coastal and Ocean Sustainability, praised the state leadership for supporting the creation of the Florida Wildlife Corridor and ongoing efforts.The Florida Wildlife Corridor has not been studied in relation to climate change until now. Our report reveals that the corridor has significant climate resilience benefits, which means it offers a better return on investment than originally believed. Some of the key findings from the report include the voluntary conservation of over 170,000 acres of private lands within the corridor with the help of state funding. Additionally, Florida conducts more prescribed fires each year than any other region in North America.Possibly the world. The increasing development of new housing, infrastructure, and other structures all over the state makes it increasingly challenging to carry out controlled burns and manage fire risk. If the corridor is not shielded from ongoing development, climate change could lead to a fire crisis in Florida similar to the one in the western U.S. However, simply conserving the corridor is not enough — there is a need for funding and policies that allow controlled burns to prevent fuel loads from building up.
Encouraging the development of clustered, mixed-use areas that take the FLWC into consideration will help to maintain ecosystem services, prevent habitat fragmentation, and lower infrastructure costs.
Moreover, the FLWC encourages the preservation of working lands in order to maintain their climate benefits while also protecting the farmers and their livelihoods.billions of dollars of agricultural revenue. Farmers can help with climate resilience by using climate-smart management solutions. The FLWC can help reduce greenhouse gases and has the potential for carbon markets. Some wildlife species will have to move north to avoid higher heat and saltwater intrusion in South Florida’s Everglades. For instance, the Florida black bear is being pushed to move north to escape the higher temperatures caused by climate change. However, habitat fragmentation prevents these migratory escape routes. Designating linkages within the FLWC as areas of critical state concern would.The goal is to help make sure that the larger corridor remains a viable route for wildlife to move through. The FLWC and this report can serve as examples for other regions dealing with population growth, climate risks, and biodiversity at risk. “The Florida Wildlife Corridor is a great example of ambitious conservation planning on a regional level. Florida has been a leader in habitat connectivity planning for a long time, and the state should be proud that its efforts inspire others around the world,” said Joshua Daskin, Ph.D., project manager and conservation director at Archbold.corridor is a demonstration of how public and private partners can collaborate to attain shared economic, social, and environmental objectives at the local and state levels.”
The FLWC climate report also offers suggestions for policies to enhance climate resilience, such as restricting coastal, wetland, and floodplain development to preserve flood mitigation services. It also recommends backing policies and laws that incorporate climate resilience into corridor land use planning and conservation.
“Despite the fact that our built environments are accountable for numerous amenities we appreciate in Florida, our choices in urban design and development have a significant impact on our climate resilience.””Preserving wetlands is essential for safeguarding against wildfires, floods, hurricanes, rising sea levels, and even health risks like heat stroke and heat-related fatalities,” explained John “Jay’ Baldwin, Ph.D., co-lead author and professor of biological sciences at FAU College of Science. “Our study outlines a strategy for development that promotes economic growth in Florida communities while also addressing climate change threats and preserving the well-being of Florida’s residents, ecosystems, and wildlife.”
The partners involved in the FLWC climate report are Florida State University, University of Central Florida, and University of Florida.The University of South Florida’s UF Center for Landscape Conservation Planning, South Florida Water Management District, reTHINK Energy Florida, and Dover, Kohl & Partners Town Planning are involved in the project. The report receives support from the Live Wildly Foundation. The full report can be found at https://www.archbold-station.org/projects/climate-and-wildlife-corridors/