Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) Program Pilot

Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) Program Pilot is sponsored by Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation. The Florida Wildlife Corridor Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) program pilot offers annual payments to private landowners for five years who keep their land undeveloped and support vital ecosystem services such as connecting wildlife habitats, protecting water quality, and r…

Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) | Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) Keep Your Land Working for Florida's Future Are you a landowner who wants to keep your land wild and working for Florida’s future? The Florida Wildlife Corridor Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) program pilot is designed just for you.

By joining the PES pilot, you can receive annual payments for five years simply by keeping your land undeveloped and supporting one or more of these vital ecosystem services: Keep Wildlife Habits Connected Helping Recharge Florida's Aquifers Protecting Clean Water For Your Community You’ll get financial support for being a good steward, while your land continues to provide the natural benefits that all Floridians rely on.

Your participation helps: Protect your property from development Buys time to explore even more conservation opportunities Ensures your land’s legacy for years to come If you’ve ever wondered how you can make a difference while keeping your land productive and natural, the PES pilot is your chance to be part of something bigger, side by side with other landowners who care about keeping Florida wild.

Apply using the link below, or download and print a paper application to mail to: Wildlife Corridor PES Coordinator, 2606 Fairfield Ave S, BLDG 7C, St. Petersburg, FL 33712. Use the interactive map below to quickly check whether your property falls within the eligible funding area.

Simply enter the property address in the map’s search bar to get started. To stay eligible, just keep your enrolled land as open space or working/agricultural land. If the land is sold or turned into residential or commercial development, it won’t qualify for the program.

No matter the size of your property, you’re welcome to explore this opportunity! Eligibility is based on where your land is located within the Florida Wildlife Corridor pilot area and whether funding is available. If you’re a private landowner who keeps your land open and undeveloped within the Florida Wildlife Corridor, you’re an essential part of this conservation opportunity.

Your stewardship helps keep Florida wild and connected for everyone. Expected Ecosystem Services The PES program focuses on three key ways your land can help Florida: keeping wildlife habitats connected, protecting water quality, and helping recharge our aquifers. We’ll use clear, science-based tools to measure these benefits, so you know exactly how your stewardship is making a difference.

While the program is voluntary, if you’re eligible and wish to apply, you will be required to complete a program application and provide the following information: Location and total acreage of parcel(s) the applicant is seeking to enroll *currently limited based on funding source to the area shown in the Avon Park Air Force region map) Crops grown or other major land use of the parcel(s) Future plans for the property Participation in other PES or cost share programs Any active or pending permits A map that delineates all parcel(s) the applicant wishes to enroll in the PES program Applicant must be adjacent to or near a Military Influence Protect Area boundary Payments will be calculated based on existing data, which estimates ecosystem services based on the location of the property in the Florida Wildlife Corridor and the current land use.

Contact us for the schedule of current payment amounts. The Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation worked with The Balmoral Group to create the Florida Wildlife Corridor Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) program. Using data from the University of Florida, the team identified places within the Corridor where land provides important benefits, like supporting wildlife, keeping water clean, or helping recharge aquifers.

They also looked at things like soil type, how close the land is to wetlands, and how natural or developed the area is, to see how much each property helps the environment. The goal is to measure these benefits clearly and fairly, so landowners can be rewarded for keeping their land natural. This program gives landowners another way to protect their property from development.

It works alongside other voluntary options, like conservation easements and land purchases, to keep Florida’s land and water safe for the future. Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) help cover the cost of choosing conservation instead of development, making it easier to keep the Florida Wildlife Corridor connected and keep land use compatible with nature.

❯ What is the Florida Wildlife Corridor Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) program? This program gives you a financial incentive to keep your land natural instead of selling for development. By participating , you help protect cri tic a l areas in the Florida Wildlife Corridor, maintain wildlife connectivity, and can also support c lea n water and aquifer recharge.

It’s a voluntary way to earn income while preserving your land for the future. ❯ Why does the Corridor Foundation want to work with private landowners? The Corridor Foundation recognizes private landowners as crucial partners in Florida conservation efforts as the first and final decision maker.

Developing conservation incentives and connecting with private landowners are priorities of the Corridor Foundation’s Conservation and Connectivity Plan. This program helps to realize those objectives ❯ How much does a landowner get paid? And how does a landowner get paid upon enrollment?

A landowner can be paid for providing one or two ecosystem services. Payment rates average about $30/acre/year: ranging from $9/acre/year to $97/acre/year. Rates are established per enrolled acre and dependent on ecosystem services, including habitat connectivity, aquifer recharge, water quality, location and condition.

These payment rates will fluctuate from time to time. If interested, please contact us. Landowners enter contracts to receive annual payments on a per-acre basis for the ecosystem services provided for a period of 5 years.

They receive payment for the enrolled acreage at the time of enrollment and after each annual ecosystem services monitoring visit. ❯ What are the eligibility requirements? Eligibility for the Florida Wildlife Corridor PES Pilot program is based on 4 factors: Size of Property – Large landowners and small landowners can participate, but eligibility will depend on location in Wildlife Corridor Opportunity Areas and funding availability.

Entity Type – Private landowners with agricultural working lands or other land uses that maintain land in open space within the boundaries of the Florida Wildlife Corridor. Expected Ecosystem Services – The ecosystem services of focus include habitat connectivity, water quality, and aquifer recharge.

Land Use and Management – Maintaining working agricultural lands as open space and not selling lands to residential or commercial development uses. ❯ How can landowners apply for the PES program? Click on the link on the homepage: https://www.

wildlifecorridorpes-fl. com/ and click the “Submit Your Expression of Interest” button. ❯ Where is the program being offered?

Enrollment is currently restricted to the areas near the Avon Park Air Force Range . Expansion to o the r areas will be based on o the r funding sources. To stay informed about new PES Program opportunities, contact us !

❯ What are payments based on? Payments will be calculated based on the quantity of ecosystem services provided on the enrollee’s land as determined by Florida Ecological Greenways Network (FEGN) spatial data and also land cover data relevant to each ecosystem service that is provided, multiplied by the value of the ecosystem service as determined by a cc epted ecosystem services values derived through a benefits transfer approach.

❯ What are landowners responsible for during the contracted period? Participating landowners must maintain enrolled working agricultural lands as open space and not sell lands to residential or commercial development uses. Each year, landowners schedule a time to allow Corridor Foundation or o the r monitoring personnel on site for an ecosystem services monitoring visit.

❯ Can participating landowners apply to cost share programs, like Natural Resources Conservation Science (NRCS) Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) or Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)? Yes, the r e are various forms of landowner assistance that can be applied to properties already enrolled in the Florida Wildlife Corridor PES Pilot program.

Landowners participating in the program are encouraged to explore o the r assistance opportunities; for example, the above-mentioned cost share programs are aligned with the goals of the Florida Wildlife Corridor PES Pilot program. Landowners who meet NRCS program requirements are encouraged to seek funding for the ir management practices.

While cost share program payments are based on the completion of specific practices and the corresponding cost of implementation, the Florida Wildlife Corridor PES Pilot program payments are based on measures of habitat connectivity, water quality, and aquifer recharge on a property. ❯ What if the landowner or the Corridor Foundation want to make changes to or terminate the contract?

Agreements have both an amendment and termination clause, allowing ei the r party to amend or terminate the agreement without penalty. Payments are based on ecosystem conditions that exist at the time of enrollment and monitoring visits, so no penalty or repayment will be required if an agreement is terminated .

Program participants are free to manage the ir land as desired , however , changes to ecosystem conditions in the enrolled area may affect subsequent scoring and payment rate. In certain cases, ecosystem changes may result in termination of the agreement with no liability for the Corridor Foundation to make future payments. ❯ How long are the contracts?

Landowners enter contracts to receive annual payments on a per-acre basis for the ecosystem services provided for a period of 5 years. Renewal would be agreed upon by both parties. ❯ What if a landowner sells their property?

A landowner who sells property containing enrolled acreage can terminate the contract. If interested in the program, the new landowner(s) would need to apply during the next available enrollment period. ❯ Can the landowner continue grazing, hunting, silviculture, or other income-generating activities?

Yes, activities such as grazing, hunting, and silviculture are generally compatible with conservation goals when done following basic conservation tenets. This program is geared toward working lands, where stewardship can yield multiple benefits while also providing ecosystem services like habitat connectivity, water quality, and aquifer recharge. ❯ What assurances can the Corridor Foundation make that the payments will be made?

Funding for the Florida Wildlife Corridor PES Pilot program has been received and secured from a grant through the U.S. Department of Defense’s Readiness and Environmental Protection Initiative (REPI) Challenge Grant Program. The su cc ess of the pilot program will determine future funding from REPI and o the r sources that will be pursued including public and private entities.

Funding a long-term PES program is a priority of the Corridor Foundation to ensure the protection of cri tic a l l i n k a g e s within the Florida Wildlife Corridor via private lands. Keep Wild Florida Connected Accelerate the protection of 18 million acres of vital Florida habitat. Your support directly funds advocacy, conservation workshops, and the permanent protection of critical wildlife links.

Donate directly through the form below or visit our donation landing page here Your trust is our foundation. We are committed to full financial transparency, ensuring your gifts go directly toward protecting wild Florida. Our annual reports and IRS Form 990 are available for public inspection on our website—see the impact of your support before you give.

Visit the Donate page for more information Florida Wildlife Corridor Payments for Ecosystem Services Pil ot Program A pplication The Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation’s (FWCF) Florida Wildlife Corridor Payment for Ecosystem Services Pilot Program will compensate private landowners for the provision of certain ecosystem services on their lands.

Location and Size of Property Private landowners who have landholdings located within the Military Influence Planning Area (MIPA) or Noise Exposure Contours of the Avon Part Air Force Range and also are located within Florida Wildlife Corridor Opportunity Areas (Area of Interest) are eligible to apply. Landowners may apply to enroll a parcel or parcels of any size.

Individual, for profit or not-for-profit private landowners are eligible to apply. Avoidance of conflict of interest or the appearance of conflict of interest is required. As the intent is to expand preserved areas, lands that are under a current conservation easement are not eligible to apply.

Ecosystem Service Levels and Prices Provision of habitat connectivity within Florida Wildlife Corridor Opportunity Areas is the required threshold for ecosystem service payments. In addition, a landowner may apply for compensation for up to two additional ecosystem services including aquifer recharge and water quality, based on suitable lands and subject to funding availability.

The ecosystem services have been quantified into low, medium, and high=level categories using publicly available and authoritative data. 1 Annual per-acre prices for each ecosystem service and level are shown in Table 1 as of December 3, 2025.

Table 1 : Florida Wildlife Corridor PES Annual Per-Acre Price by Ecosystem Service and Level Current Land Use/Management Alternatives Landowner agrees to maintaining Wildlife Corridor-compatible lands and not selling lands for non-Corridor-compatible development uses. Avoiding disruption to ecosystem services is imperative.

Florida Wildlife Corridor PES program administrators will evaluate applications based on: quality of the ecosystem services to be provided, location of proposed lands relative to Wildlife Corridor Opportunity Areas (i.e. the Corridor pinch points as identified in GIS maps), and Working agricultural lands will be prioritized.

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Barthélemy St. Martin St.

Pierre & Miquelon Sudan Suriname Svalbard and Jan Mayen Sweden Switzerland Syria São Tomé & Príncipe Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad & Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Turks & Caicos Islands Tuvalu U.S. Virgin Islands US Minor Outlying Islands Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States of America (USA) Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Vatican City Venezuela Vietnam Wallis And Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe Correspondence will be sent over email.

Please check the box below to instead receive correspondence via US Mail. Check here to receive correspondence via US Mail.

Country Afghanistan Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antarctica Antigua & Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Ascension Island Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Bouvet Island Brazil British Indian Ocean Territory British Virgin Islands Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cabo Verde Cambodia Cameroon Canada Caribbean Netherlands Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Christmas Island Cocos Islands Colombia Comoros Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Cook Islands Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Curaçao Cyprus Czechia Côte d'Ivoire Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia Falkland Islands Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia French South Territories Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guernsey Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Heard Island And Mcdonald Island Honduras Hong Kong SAR China Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Isle of Man Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jersey Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kosovo Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macao SAR China Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island North Korea North Macedonia Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Palestinian Territories Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Pitcairn Islands Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Romania Russia Rwanda Réunion Saint Helena Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Sint Maarten Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Georgia and South Sandwich South Korea South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka St.

Barthélemy St. Martin St.

Pierre & Miquelon Sudan Suriname Svalbard and Jan Mayen Sweden Switzerland Syria São Tomé & Príncipe Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad & Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Turks & Caicos Islands Tuvalu U.S. Virgin Islands US Minor Outlying Islands Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States of America (USA) Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Vatican City Venezuela Vietnam Wallis And Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe Correspondence will be sent over email.

Please check the box below to instead receive correspondence via US Mail. Check here to receive correspondence via US Mail. Please complete the following information about the land that you wish to enroll in the PES program.

Location * Crop(s) grown and/or other major land use(s): * Annual fertilizer applications on portions of land * Yes No Other Briefly describe landowner’s annual and long-term land management plan (i.e., list current and future planned land management activities on parcel(s) for which PES enrollment is being sought): * Indicate in which of the following programs landowner applicant is currently enrolled (select all that apply): US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) USDA NRCS Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Best Management Practices (BMPs) Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Gopher Tortoise Program FWC Panther Depredation Compensation Program FWC Florida Panther Payment for Ecosystem Services Pilot Program South Florida Water Management District Dispersed Water Management Program Other PES or similar program(s) (please specify): Please list any active related permit applications or permit numbers, e.g. consumptive use permit, environmental resource permit, etc. (if applicable): Attach a map that clearly delineates all parcels for which landowner is seeking enrollment in this PES program.

Include geographic information including local government boundaries and landowner parcel boundaries. * Choose File No file chosen Delete uploaded file Signature * Affidavit The undersigned affirms that all of the information provided herein is a true and accurate statement of land management condition and intent.

Authorization is hereby given to the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation to verify in any manner it deems appropriate any and all items indicated on this statement. The undersigned also agrees to notify the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation immediately in writing of any significant change in land management or condition. Start signing your signature here Your browser does not support e-Signature field.

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