Context <p>The Florida Ecological Greenways Network (FEGN), established in the mid-1990s, was developed to combat habitat loss and fragmentation from rapid population growth. Over the past 30&#xa0;years, the FEGN has been pivotal in identifying areas essential for biodiversity and ecosystem services to support conservation land acquisition programs including Florida Forever and the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. It also underpins the Florida Wildlife Corridor Act, demonstrating its critical role in shaping state legislation. Continuous updates to the FEGN have ensured its relevance by integrating new geospatial data and advanced modeling techniques.</p> Objectives <p>This paper examines the methodology delineating and prioritizing the FEGN’s statewide ecological network. Using geospatial data to interface with environmental policy for strategic conservation planning, we demonstrate its cumulative importance for protecting the state’s biodiversity and ecosystem services.</p> Methods <p>We describe the data and methodological framework used to prioritize and refine the FEGN, including focal species, ecosystem services, connectivity models, and distribution of natural communities. We also compare the 2021 and 2016 versions of the FEGN to demonstrate the impact of updated data and land protection progress.</p> Conclusions <p>Our findings emphasize the importance of regularly updating connectivity conservation plans to account for land use changes and advancements in geospatial modeling tools. The involvement of a Technical Advisory Group (TAG) has ensured objective data inclusion and building trust in the planning process. The FEGN provides essential guidance for stakeholders in landscape conservation planning, including government agencies, land trusts, and private landowners. The state legislature’s recognition and funding of the Florida Wildlife Corridor underscore the effectiveness of long-term scientific integration in conservation efforts.</p>

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Refining the Florida ecological greenways network for improved landscape planning and conservation prioritization

  • Thomas S. Hoctor,
  • Eve Bohnett,
  • Michael O’Brien,
  • Elizabeth Thompson,
  • Reed Noss,
  • Sarah Lockhart,
  • Michael Volk,
  • Peggy Carr,
  • Daniel J. Smith,
  • Joseph M. Guthrie,
  • Jon Oetting

摘要

Context

The Florida Ecological Greenways Network (FEGN), established in the mid-1990s, was developed to combat habitat loss and fragmentation from rapid population growth. Over the past 30 years, the FEGN has been pivotal in identifying areas essential for biodiversity and ecosystem services to support conservation land acquisition programs including Florida Forever and the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. It also underpins the Florida Wildlife Corridor Act, demonstrating its critical role in shaping state legislation. Continuous updates to the FEGN have ensured its relevance by integrating new geospatial data and advanced modeling techniques.

Objectives

This paper examines the methodology delineating and prioritizing the FEGN’s statewide ecological network. Using geospatial data to interface with environmental policy for strategic conservation planning, we demonstrate its cumulative importance for protecting the state’s biodiversity and ecosystem services.

Methods

We describe the data and methodological framework used to prioritize and refine the FEGN, including focal species, ecosystem services, connectivity models, and distribution of natural communities. We also compare the 2021 and 2016 versions of the FEGN to demonstrate the impact of updated data and land protection progress.

Conclusions

Our findings emphasize the importance of regularly updating connectivity conservation plans to account for land use changes and advancements in geospatial modeling tools. The involvement of a Technical Advisory Group (TAG) has ensured objective data inclusion and building trust in the planning process. The FEGN provides essential guidance for stakeholders in landscape conservation planning, including government agencies, land trusts, and private landowners. The state legislature’s recognition and funding of the Florida Wildlife Corridor underscore the effectiveness of long-term scientific integration in conservation efforts.