Payment for Ecosystem Services

FWC recognizes private landowners as crucial partners in Florida panther conservation. Developing conservation incentives and providing outreach to private landowners are priorities of FWC’s Florida Panther Conservation Plan. This program helps to realize those objectives.

Ecosystem services are the direct and indirect benefits that nature provides society. The Panther PES Pilot Program Land is designed to reward land stewardship that provides habitat for panthers, among other important ecosystem services.

The program is focused within the panther Primary and Secondary Zones south of the Caloosahatchee River as well as the panther Expansion Area south of Interstate 4. Landowners within the following counties are eligible for participation:  Broward, Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okeechobee, Osceola, Polk and Sarasota.

Eligibility criteria include lands owned by a non-governmental entity or American Indian Tribe for private or commercial use; located within :  Broward, Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okeechobee, Osceola, Polk or Sarasota county; located within 2 miles of the Florida Wildlife Corridor; at least 500 contiguous acres containing at least 10% native forest cover and at most 70% open habitat, with less than 25% invasive plant cover. There are no income restrictions to participate in the program, and lands with conservation easements can be enrolled as long as the easements were not required to mitigate loss of wildlife habitat.

The first open enrollment period is September 19 to October 19, 2024. All interested landowners are encouraged to apply for the program, either through the online application or by mailing in a completed application. The highest-ranking applications will be enrolled as funding allows.

Payment rates are based on measures of panther habitat quality and other relevant parameters, not the implementation of specific land management practices.

The FWC determines the amount and quality of panther habitat on a candidate property, then evaluates and scores habitat conditions during a site visit. The payment rate is based on the area’s score in several assessment categories.

Initial habitat assessments and annual monitoring visits are completed by FWC staff. Payment amounts in subsequent years may be recalculated based on changes in habitat conditions.

Landowners receive annual payments on a per-acre basis for the panther habitat provided. Payment are based on tiered habitat parameters determined during habitat evaluations. Payment rates range from $7 to $17 per enrolled acre. Landowners can receive an additional $0.50 per enrolled acre for allowing FWC staff to place one or more wildlife cameras for panther monitoring. Additionally, payment is made for panther images from either FWC’s or the landowner’s cameras(s). See the Landowner’s Guide for more details.

Landowners receive annual payments that correspond to their area’s habitat parameter scores. Each year after the initial payment, the landowner schedules a time to allow FWC biologists to collect habitat quality data within the enrolled areas to complete annual habitat monitoring and receive the next payment for a total agreement period of three years.

Participating landowners maintain or improve habitat conditions in the enrolled area for three years to receive three years of payment. Landowners schedule a time with FWC personnel and allow FWC personnel on site for the annual assessments.  Participation in FWC programs is subject to public records requests per Florida Public Records Law, Chapter 119 Florida Statutes.

Yes, there are various forms of landowner assistance that can be applied to properties already enrolled in the Panther PES Pilot Program. Landowners participating in the PES Pilot Program are encouraged to explore other assistance opportunities; for example, the above-mentioned cost share programs are aligned with the goals of the Panther PES Pilot Program. Landowners who meet NRCS program requirements are encouraged to seek funding for their management practices. While cost share program payments are based on the completion of specific practices and the corresponding cost of implementation, the PES Pilot Program payments are based on measures of panther habitat quality and quantity on a property.

FWC will provide each applicant landowner a brief list of recommendations for the panther habitat on their property. The list will act as a guide for landowners to improve the panther habitat on their property, should they choose to do so, and connect them with resources that can provide cost-share opportunities for various land management practices. Landowners will have the opportunity to discuss their land management practices and goals with an FWC biologist during the site visit.

Upon completion of each annual monitoring site visit, if the evaluation shows that habitat conditions have changed enough to warrant a change in rating of the property, then the payment rate would shift up or down in accordance with the habitat quality rating. Landowners whose habitat parameters show no significant change will continue to receive the same payments each year.

The recommendations are provided as guidance to enhance the habitat and landowners are not required to implement them.  The recommendations are tailored to increase the quality of habitat on the land and could lead to higher ranking for future application periods and increased payment rates when properly implemented.

Landowners receive annual payment amounts that correlate with habitat quality on their properties. By maintaining quality panther habitat on their property, landowners can also promote the presence of other wildlife species that benefit from the mosaic of ecosystems that lead to healthy panther habitat. In addition, landowners may benefit from healthy prey populations and game species that are desirable for recreational and hunting purposes.

Agreements have both an amendment and termination clause, allowing either party to amend or terminate the agreement with no penalty.  Since payments are based on habitat conditions that existed immediately prior to enrollment, no penalty or repayment will be required if an agreement is terminated.  Landowners are free to manage or alter the land as they may need and if said alterations reduce or eliminate the habitat parameters that qualified the land for its enrollment and payment rate, FWC may terminate the agreement with no liability for future payments.

Current funding will allow for 3-year contracts during the pilot program.  As the program expands, FWC anticipates entering 5-year contracts with landowners. Renewal would be agreed upon by both parties.

Funding for the pilot program has been received and secured from an America the Beautiful Challenge Grant through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.  Both funding sources are available for 3 years.  The success of the pilot program will determine future appropriations, as approved by the Florida Legislature and Governor or through other grant opportunities. Funding a long-term PES program is a priority of FWC to ensure the conservation of wildlife on private lands.

Yes, activities such as grazing, hunting and silviculture are generally compatible with panthers when done using basic conservation tenets. This program is geared towards ‘working lands’, and multiple benefits can be derived from well managed lands while also providing ecosystem services.

A landowner will have the ability to terminate the contract if they are selling the property.  If the new landowner(s) would like to participate in the PES program, they would have the opportunity to apply and enter the program at the next available enrollment period.