Our Greenways Program
CTF's Greenways Program addresses the need to enhance and protect greenways and wildlife corridors for wildlife habitat protection, biological diversity, water quality, and light recreational use. Our approach to protecting land is based on the recommendations of the Greenways Commission, which produced a report identifying potential corridors as part of the Florida Statewide Greenways Planning Project.
What we do.
The O2O Corridor Brochure is an example of an outreach tool meant to help everyone see the big picture.
We work to protect land through less-than-fee (conservation easements) and full fee acquisition. We also provide technical assistance and public outreach materials to agencies and organizations within the Greenways.
We work with partners including the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Department of Defense, The Nature Conservancy, University of Florida, Florida Forever, Alachua County Forever, The Conservation Fund, and FDEP/OGT.
You can be a part of this critical work!
The opportunties to maintain the open spaces that make the corridors possible may not exist in the future as agricultural lands make way for development and public lands are considered for surplus. Give now to help preserve Florida for tomorrow, or contact us to hear about other ways that we can help conserve the character of the Florida landscape.
The Florida black bear (Ursus americanus floridanus) is currently listed by the State of Florida as a threatened species. The population is distributed in five major sub-populations in the Ocala National Forest, Big Cypress National Preserve, Apalachicola National Forest, Osceola National Forest and Eglin Air Force Base. Habitat loss through fragmentation is the biggest threat to bear populations.
Help us create the Greenways
- Read about easements in the Conservation Toolbox
- Contact the CTF for technical assistance for your agency
- Sign up for news
- See our outreach materials
- Join the Conservation Trust for Florida
About Florida's Greenways
Florida Ecological Greenways Network
The Florida Ecological Greenways Network is a web of proposed greenways that would link critically important lands across the state, providing landscape-scaled corridors for wildlife.
Existing conservation lands are shown in the map to the right, with the highest priority land acquisitions highlighted in red and succeeding levels of priority acquisition lands in pale green.
Some of these lands are nominated for state acquisition under Florida Forever legislation. The Florida Ecological Greenways Network, which is overseen by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, provides the scientific foundation for the Florida Wildlife Corridor.
The O2O Corridor
The “O2O Corridor” would connect the Ocala and Osceola national forests, and it is shown in dark green in the map to the right. CTF advocates for land acquisition to make O2O a reality. The Florida National Scenic Trail is included in the O2O project and it will eventually connect with the Lake City to Lake Butler Trail. Horseback riding, fishing, hunting, hiking and bird-watching are some of the many recreational activities that could occur within the greenway. It would also serve as a wildlife corridor, potentially connecting fragmented black bear populations.
For a concise overview of the O2O Corridor, download this brochure.
(download pdf – print and fold - 17 x 11)
(download pdf – web-friendly, 8.5 x 11 pages)
Florida Wildlife Corridor
The “Florida Wildlife Corridor” encompasses a wide swath of privately and publicly owned land running the entire length of the state — from the Osceola National Forest at the Florida state line to the Everglades and Florida Bay. The vision of this project is to connect remaining natural lands, waters, working farms and ranches from the Everglades to Georgia, protecting a functional ecological corridor for the health of people, wildlife and watersheds. Artist Mike Reagan was commissioned to communicate the Florida Wildlife Corridor vision in this original watercolor map. Read more about the goals and extent of the Florida Wildlife Corridor.
In January 2012, the Florida Wildlife Corridor Expedition set off to cover 1000 miles in 100 days to acquaint the general public with Florida's open spaces, both public and private, and drum up support for preservation of our natural heritage and the wildlife that depend on our stewardship of their habitats.
Click here for the movie trailer for the Florida Wildlife Corridor Expedition movie. During its Gainesville screening April 30, it sold out both shows, as well as the encore showing arranged by the theater!
The movie chronicles the travels of four explorers who traveled over 1,000 miles in 100 days to raise awareness about the importance of protecting wildlife corridors across Florida's landscape. In partnership with the producers, we are now selling the DVD for home viewing, as well as a commemorative book on the Expedition featuring the images of Carlton Ward and essays by his co-explorers. Your purchase supports our work to preserve these corridors.
As the members of the Expedition work to raise awareness of the connections across Florida's landscape, The Conservation Trust of Florida works to ensure these lands are preserved in pertituity. The CTF works with private landowners to identify the best conservation solution for protecting critical parcels. It also can acquire critical parcels directly, and this is where your generous donation can make a difference.
Give now to help preserve Florida for tomorrow, or call us to hear about other ways that we can help conserve our open areas.
View this inspiring and informative video by Former Florida Governor Buddy MacKay, who is also a member of CTF's Advisory Board. He talks about the importance of protecting wildlife corridors and protecting land for conservation. Video is by the University of Florida, IFAS as part of the Springs Protection Workshop in May 2012 (11 minutes).
