Defenders' Experts
Support Land Conservation for Florida Panthers
Landowners can protect panther habitat by learning about tax incentives and conservation easements that can help you protect your land.
Everyone can help protect panther habitat by getting involved in Defenders’ efforts to protect panther habitat on public and private lands.
Incentives for Landowners to Protect Private Lands
Private lands in panther habitat may be in various land uses such as agriculture, timber, and livestock grazing. It is often these lands that are subject to development. Conservation programs, like those in the Farm Bill, can help landowners maintain their current lifestyle, and even pass it on to future generations.
Conversion of farmland to high intensity agriculture and development limits our natural resources and destroys panther habitat. Many traditional agricultural land uses are compatible with wildlife, including panthers, and can be protected through landowner incentives and conservation easements.
By far, development of private land is the largest threat to panthers. Agriculture conversion to commercial, industrial, and residential development can destroy panther habitat forever. Transportation projects fragment habitat, leaving panthers cut off from other suitable lands or forcing them to cross dangerous highways.
Learn more about Private Land Conservation
Public Lands
Panthers use several protected public lands in south Florida including, The Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge, Big Cypress National Preserve, Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve, Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, and Everglades National Park.
Public lands are protected for various reasons. For example, wildlife refuges are protected mainly for the benefit of wildlife and their habitat. Other public lands are protected as parks where people have an opportunity to enjoy outdoor recreation in natural habitat. Although public lands are protected, they still face challenges and need protection.
Human intrusion from access roads, logging, oil-drilling, mining, and off-road vehicles can degrade and damage wildlife habitat. Defenders is protecting habitat by supporting roadless area rules, and limiting off-road vehicle use.
Defenders of Wildlife is working to protect the large areas of continuous land that panthers and other wildlife need to survive. This includes connecting protected lands with greenways (or travel corridors) that panthers and wildlife can use to move between protect public lands.
Learn more about Defenders' Habitat Conservation work.
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