Ecosystem Quality, Extent, Connectivity
Goal:
Improve the quality, extent, and connectivity of Florida's ecosystems for the benefit of Species of Greatest Conservation Need.
![FWC employee in fire protection gear walking through tall vegetation with prescribed fire burning in background](/media/ldmeue5z/prescribed-burn.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=458&height=329&rnd=133594688578800000&format=jpg&quality=80)
Objective 1: Complete five research, monitoring or coordination projects that improve management of focal areas.
Objective 2: Complete improvements on lands and in waters directly or indirectly affecting focal areas, including:
- 100,000 acres of prescribed fire or fire‐related management activities.
- 500 acres of freshwater and intertidal habitat improvements.
- 3,000 linear feet of shoreline‐related and riparian improvement.
![Swamp of tupelo trees in standing water](/media/24ekjii2/tupelo-swamp.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=458&height=329&rnd=133594688582530000&format=jpg&quality=80)
Focal Areas
Focal areas include those identified by agency regional landscape conservation efforts and/or State Wildlife Action Plan priority habitats including:
- high pine and scrub
- pine flatwoods and dry prairie
- freshwater forested and non-forested wetlands
- rivers and streams, and
- intertidal (mangrove, oyster reefs, salt marshes, and tidal flats).