# Alternative Text Description for Priority Conservation Lands ## TABLE OF CONTENTS - Map Overview - Geographic Context - Key Insights - Visual Elements - Symbol Guide - Additional Information - Data Context ## MAP OVERVIEW This map displays Priority Conservation Lands across the state of Florida. The map identifies existing and future priority conservation lands that were designated as areas where development should be avoided in conservation planning scenarios. Protected lands include Florida Managed Lands, Florida Forever conservation land protection projects, and priority areas within the Florida Ecological Greenways Network, also known as the Florida Wildlife Corridor. ## GEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT The map covers the entire state of Florida, extending from the Panhandle region in the northwest through the peninsula to the southern tip near Miami. Major cities labeled on the map include Pensacola, Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Gainesville, Orlando, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Lakeland, Cape Coral, Port St. Lucie, Palm Bay, and Miami. The map also shows portions of adjacent states including southern Georgia and Alabama. The map extends slightly offshore to show Florida's coastal areas and the Florida Keys in the southeast. The Gulf of America forms the western boundary of the state, while the Atlantic Ocean lies to the east. ## KEY INSIGHTS Priority Conservation Lands show extensive coverage across Florida with distinctive regional patterns. The Florida Panhandle shows nearly continuous conservation land coverage from Pensacola eastward to Tallahassee. Central Florida displays a fragmented pattern with numerous conservation areas interspersed with gaps, particularly around major urban centers like Orlando, Tampa, and St. Petersburg. Northern Florida shows substantial conservation corridor connectivity between the Panhandle and the Jacksonville region. Southern Florida demonstrates heavy conservation land presence, especially in the Everglades region and along both coasts. Notable gaps in conservation coverage correspond with major metropolitan areas and their surrounding development patterns. ## VISUAL ELEMENTS The map uses a single thematic layer to display Priority Conservation Lands overlaid on a base map showing city locations and state boundaries. ### Priority Conservation Lands (light green shaded areas) **Appearance:** Light green shaded polygons of varying sizes and shapes distributed throughout Florida. **Distribution:** Conservation lands appear throughout the entire state with varying density. The Panhandle region shows nearly continuous coverage. The northern peninsula displays substantial east-west connectivity. Central Florida shows a more fragmented distribution with multiple discrete patches. Southern Florida demonstrates extensive coverage, particularly in the southern peninsula and Everglades region. **Notable locations:** - Extensive continuous areas in the Florida Panhandle from Pensacola to Tallahassee - Large conservation corridor extending from the Panhandle through northern Florida toward Jacksonville - Substantial conservation areas surrounding Lake Okeechobee in south-central Florida - Extensive coverage throughout the Everglades and southern peninsula - Significant coastal conservation lands along both the Atlantic and Gulf of America shorelines - Conservation areas in the Big Bend region along Florida's northwestern Gulf coast - Protected lands throughout the Florida Keys **Spatial patterns:** Conservation lands form connected corridors in the Panhandle and northern regions, creating wildlife movement pathways. The pattern becomes increasingly fragmented in central Florida around major population centers. Urban areas including Tampa-St. Petersburg, Orlando, Jacksonville, and Miami appear as distinct gaps within the conservation network. Coastal conservation lands often follow shoreline configurations. The overall pattern suggests a statewide network designed to maintain ecological connectivity while accommodating existing urban development. ### Overlapping Patterns No overlapping thematic layers are present in this map. The Priority Conservation Lands layer represents a single unified dataset showing areas designated for conservation protection. ## SYMBOL GUIDE - **Light green shaded areas:** Priority Conservation Lands, representing existing and future areas identified for conservation protection, including Florida Managed Lands, Florida Forever projects, and priority areas in the Florida Ecological Greenways Network (Florida Wildlife Corridor) ## ADDITIONAL INFORMATION This map was created as part of the Sea Level 2040/2070 project to identify areas where development should be avoided in the Conservation 2040 and 2070 planning scenarios. The map represents a comprehensive view of Florida's conservation land network, combining multiple conservation designations into a single unified layer. The dataset integrates various conservation priorities including state-managed lands, acquisition projects, and ecological corridor priorities. Urban areas and developed regions appear as gaps within the conservation network, reflecting the balance between conservation goals and existing human settlement patterns. This map provides a statewide perspective on conservation planning and land protection priorities. ## DATA CONTEXT **Data Source:** This dataset includes a representation of existing and future priority conservation lands in Florida used to identify areas where development should be avoided in the Conservation 2040 and 2070 Scenarios as part of the Sea Level 2040/2070 project. Protected lands include Florida Managed Lands (FLMA), Florida Forever conservation land protection projects, and Priorities 1, 2, and 3 in the Florida Ecological Greenways Network (FEGN), otherwise known as the Florida Wildlife Corridor. Data source layer name: SL2040_2070_CONS_PROTECT_MAY23. **Definition Query:** No definition query or filter criteria was specified for this map view. **Scale Information:** The map displays statewide coverage at a scale appropriate for viewing conservation land distribution patterns across the entire state of Florida. This scale is suitable for understanding regional patterns and connectivity but may not show fine details of individual conservation parcels. **Coordinate System:** NAD_1983_HARN_Florida_GDL_Albers (WKID 3087) **Time Period of Content:** Dataset dated May 2023, as indicated by the data source layer name. **Limitations:** The map represents conservation priorities and designations as of May 2023 and may not reflect subsequent changes in land protection status or conservation acquisitions. The dataset combines multiple conservation designation types, which may have varying levels of protection and management restrictions. Areas shown as conservation lands may include parcels in various stages of acquisition or protection implementation. **Map Coverage:** The map extent covers the entire state of Florida from the western Panhandle to the Florida Keys, including portions of southern Georgia and Alabama for geographic context. Coastal waters of the Gulf of America and Atlantic Ocean are visible surrounding the peninsula. --- The alternative text description of this map was AI-generated and may contain inaccuracies.