The Florida panther needs room to roam. Adult males can require up to 200 square miles of connected habitat, yet development and roads continue to fragment the landscape they depend on. Protecting these iconic cats requires more than preserving public lands. It requires partnerships with the private landowners who manage much of Florida’s remaining natural habitat.
That is the idea behind the Florida Panther Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) Pilot Program. Through this innovative effort, landowners are rewarded for maintaining and improving habitat that supports panthers and other wildlife while continuing to manage productive working lands.
The response from Florida’s landowners has been overwhelming. Applications for the pilot represented more than 172,000 acres of potential panther habitat across 14 counties.
One of the enrolled properties is a working ranch owned and managed by a private landowner since 2014. The ranch is a beautiful mosaic of palmetto prairie, marshes, and oak hammocks, providing habitat for wildlife while supporting agricultural operations.
For this landowner, participating in the PES program was a practical way to continue important stewardship work, including help with the ever-rising costs of chemicals for exotic plant treatment and high fuel costs for roller chopping.
Those management activities are critical for keeping native habitats healthy. Removing invasive plants, controlling dense undergrowth, and maintaining open landscapes all help wildlife thrive while supporting the long-term health of the ranch.
When asked what he enjoys most about stewarding the property, his answer was simple: keeping it in balance.
“It’s important to us to be good managers and show that cattle, plants, and all desired wildlife including the panther can be balanced to live together and thrive,” he said, “You can’t let any of the three get too far out of balance.”
That philosophy reflects what makes Florida’s working lands so important for conservation. Ranches, farms, and forests can provide valuable habitat for wildlife when thoughtfully managed, creating landscapes where both people and nature can succeed.
His commitment to stewardship has led to some unforgettable wildlife encounters over the years, including coming within 70 yards of a large male Florida panther.
The Florida Panther PES Pilot Program demonstrates what is possible when conservation organizations, wildlife agencies, and private landowners work together toward a common goal. By helping landowners achieve their stewardship objectives, the program creates benefits that extend far beyond individual property lines.
Our Foundation is proud to be a partner in this effort. Working alongside the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, we helped secure $1.5 million in federal funding and contributed nearly $500,000 to launch the pilot program.
With additional support, the program could help protect more working lands and strengthen habitat connections across the state. Conservation does not happen on public lands alone. It depends on partnerships with the people who live and work on the landscape every day.Â
By donating to our Florida Panther Fund, you support programs like this and create a stronger future for the Florida panther and the wild places that make Florida unique.
