How a new mapping tool helps Florida planners protect wildlife corridors as the state grows

Conservation researchers, in collaboration with the University of Florida’s Center for Landscape Conservation Planning and GeoPlan Center, developed the Florida Ecological Connectivity Planning Viewer, known as EcoCon. This online mapping platform helps decision-makers and conservationists understand Florida's connected ecological network. It allows users to see how land fits together and avoid impacts that would disrupt or disconnect wildlife corridors, which are crucial as Florida added nearly 3 million residents from 2010-2020. The tool addresses the challenge of fragmented data by consolidating information from various agencies and universities. EcoCon enables users to visualize wildlife movement pathways and other planning data to inform land-use decisions.