The Panther Passage Conservation Bank is a largescale habitat conservation bank located in Hendry County, Florida, designed to protect and restore critical habitat necessary for the longterm recovery of the endangered Florida panther. The approximately 4,010acre site plays a vital role in establishing a functional wildlife corridor north of the Caloosahatchee River, a recognized requirement for restoring and sustaining viable panther populations.
Owned by Floraland Dairy, Inc., which has stewarded the land for more than 50 years, Panther Passage represents a landmark conservation effort that balances habitat protection with regional development needs. Upon approval, the bank will permanently preserve and manage strategically located lands that are essential to statewide conservation goals.
Panther Passage is located within the Florida panther dispersal zone as delineated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The site spans the entire width of the dispersal zone, providing an uninterrupted north–south linkage between existing panther populations south of the Caloosahatchee River and current or future populations to the north.
This strategic location enhances landscape connectivity between major conservation areas, including the Okaloacoochee Slough and Fisheating Creek, supporting longterm genetic exchange and population resilience.
Total Site Area: Approximately 4,010 acres
The property consists primarily of forested habitats with interspersed wetlands and upland systems. Approximately 30 percent of the site is wetland habitat, including wet prairie, freshwater marsh, cypress, cypress/pine, and mixed wetland forests. Uplands include pine flatwoods, live oak, palmetto prairie, and improved pasture. Existing land uses have been lowintensity and compatible with conservation, allowing for enhanced restoration and longterm ecological function.
The Panther Passage Conservation Bank is designed to generate Florida panther habitat conservation credits approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Due to its size and location within the core dispersal zone, the bank produces a substantial supply of credits, offering an efficient and costeffective mitigation option for projects within southwest Florida.
Credit availability, quantities, and release schedules will be established in accordance with the approved conservation banking instrument.
Panther Passage will be permanently protected through conservation easements and managed under a comprehensive longterm management framework. Ongoing stewardship activities will include habitat management, invasive species control, prescribed fire where appropriate, and monitoring to ensure continued suitability for panther movement and habitation.
The bank’s strategic position allows it to serve as an ecological anchor for future public and private conservation initiatives, helping establish a permanent and functional wildlife corridor across the landscape.
The Panther Passage Conservation Bank provides significant regional and statewide environmental benefits, including:
Utilizing credits from the Panther Passage Conservation Bank provides permit applicants with:
The Panther Passage Conservation Bank is sponsored by Floraland Dairy, Inc. and represented by The Wetlandsbank Company, a recognized leader in environmental mitigation banking with a long history of successful conservation projects throughout Florida and the United States.
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