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.
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. Read more about Florida's bears.
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.
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.
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.
Protected Properties
- Barr Hammock
- Price's Scrub
- Lochloosa Preserve
Barr Hammock
In 2002, CTF nominated Barr Hammock for acquisition. Using Alachua County Forever funds, the Alachua County Commission purchased this prized property, furthering our commitment to help create a recreational, landscape-level corridor that runs through Alachua and Marion Counties. Barr Hammock connects Payne's Prairie State Preserve to the Ocala National Forest and Goethe State Forest, keeping intact entire ecosystems, wildlife populations and the largest wetlands in Alachua County - Ledwith and Levy Prairies. Barr Hammock and its surrounding uplands are some of the most important ecologically intact examples of prairie/lake ecosystems in north central Florida. Its protection preserves significant prehistoric archaeological sites and will provide the citizens of Florida with a beautiful space for recreational activities such as bird watching and hiking.
Press release announcing the Acquisition of Barr Hammock.pdf
Educational programs at Barr Hammock - Ledwith Prairie Preserve
Price's Scrub
Working with the state Office of Greenways and Trails, CTF helped protect Price's Scrub a unique 952-acre sand pine and pond pine system with saw palmetto understory. Price's Scrub will undergo ecological restoration and will be open to the public for light recreation such as hiking and horseback riding. CTF is negotiating protective conservation easements with landowners adjacent to Price's Scrub to protect surrounding farmlands. The properties are an important connection in the effort to create a recreational corridor, primarily for horseback riding, from Payne's Prairie Sate Preserve to Goethe State Forest.
Lochloosa Nature Preserve
CTF nominated the Lochloosa Nature Preserve for acquisition by the Alachua County Forever land conservation program. The project was approved for acquisition in October 2003. The 1,388-acre parcel, surrounded by the Lochloosa Wildlife Conservation Area, boasts some of the best remaining longleaf pine flatwoods and sandhill habitat in the county.
