Payment for Ecosystem Services
The FWC’s Florida Panther Payment for Ecosystem Services Pilot Program rewards private landowners for maintaining and improving Florida panther habitat on their property.
The FWC is providing annual payments to landowners who have Florida panther habitat of high conservation priority. Enrollment is voluntary and competitive based on the location, amount, and quality of panther habitat provided as well as available funding. Optional opportunities are available for landowners to coordinate with the FWC to monitor panthers on their property and receive additional payments for evidence of panther use. Information is also being offered on land management techniques to benefit wildlife, livestock depredation mitigation, and other topics.
The program benefits both private landowners and the panther population by providing per-acre payments for habitat conditions that support panther conservation and landscape connectivity. While Florida panthers are the primary focus of the program, it will provide benefits to varied species, such as white-tailed deer, Florida black bears, and others that depend on the mosaic of habitats used by panthers.
If candidate property meets the eligibility and priority criteria, FWC staff visit the site to conduct a habitat assessment and provide land management recommendations. The assessment provides a measure of panther habitat quality and offers benchmarks for improving habitat conditions and increasing payment rates.
Landowners can receive a per-acre bonus payment for allowing wildlife cameras on their property. Additional monthly payments will be offered for qualifying panther images.
Participating landowners agree to manage part or all of their property in a manner that benefits panther habitat for three years and allow FWC staff to conduct annual habitat monitoring visits, coordinated with individual landowners. An initial payment is made to the landowner, and subsequent payments are made annually following each monitoring visit.
See our Landowner’s Guide to the Florida Panther Payment for Ecosystem Services Pilot Program for more information on eligibility criteria, habitat assessments, payment rates, and more. See our Program Brochure for program highlights in a downloadable, shareable format.
Enrollment for the program is currently CLOSED. The enrollment period for this round of applicants was from September 19, 2024 to October 31, 2024.
Want to keep up with the program’s progress and stay informed about new PES Program opportunities? Contact program staff at PES@MyFWC.com.
Florida Panther Payment for Ecosystem Services Pilot Program FAQs
The objective of the Panther PES Pilot Program is to provide a financial incentive to private landowners who provide and maintain panther habitat and landscape connectivity for panthers. The FWC is making payments to landowners who have property identified as high-priority Florida panther habitat. The program also provides outreach on livestock depredation mitigation and best management practices for supporting panthers on working and rural lands.
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 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 forested cover and at most 70% open habitat, with less than 25% invasive plant cover. There is no income limit for program eligibility, and lands with conservation easements can be enrolled as long as the easements were not required to mitigate loss of wildlife habitat.
Enrollment is currently closed. The enrollment period for the first round of applicants was from September 19, 2024 to October 31, 2024. To stay informed about new PES Program opportunities, contact program staff at PES@MyFWC.com.
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.
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 the FWC’s or landowner’s cameras(s). See the Landowner’s Guide for more details.
Landowners receive annual payments on a per-acre basis for the panther habitat provided. They receive payment for the enrolled acreage at the time of enrollment and after each annual habitat monitoring visit. Bonus payments for qualifying panther images are made monthly. Payments are issued to the landowner through a third-party payment contractor.
Participating landowners maintain or improve habitat conditions in the enrolled area for a period of three years. Each year, landowners schedule a time to allow FWC personnel on site for a habitat monitoring visit. 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.
If an annual monitoring visit shows that conditions have changed enough from the previous habitat assessment to warrant rescoring, then the payment rate may shift up (indicating an increase in habitat quality) or down (indicating a decrease in habitat quality). A landowner whose habitat conditions show no significant change from year to year will receive the same payment rate.
During site visits, landowners have the opportunity to discuss their land management practices and goals with an FWC biologist. Staff will provide each landowner with management recommendations for improving the panther habitat on their property. They also provide information about resources that offer provide cost-share opportunities for various land management practices.
Landowners are not required to implement the recommendations, which are provided as guidance for enhancing habitat conditions. When properly implemented, they may result in higher habitat assessment scores and/or higher property ranking during future enrollment periods.
Landowners receive annual payments that correspond to the quality of panther habitat on their property. They receive technical assistance as part of the program and can also be directed to other resources that help offset the costs of land management and conservation. Participants may also benefit from the occurrence of other wildlife, including species that provide hunting and other recreational opportunities, that depend on the mosaic of habitats used by panthers.
Agreements have both an amendment and termination clause, allowing either party to amend or terminate the agreement without penalty. Payments are based on habitat conditions that exist at the time of enrollment/monitoring visits, so no penalty or repayment will be required if an agreement is terminated. Program participants are free to manage their land as desired. However, changes to habitat conditions in the enrolled area may affect subsequent scoring and payment rate. In certain cases, habitat changes may result in termination of the agreement with no liability for the FWC to make 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 following basic conservation tenets. This program is geared toward working lands, where stewardship can yield multiple benefits while also providing ecosystem services like habitat for panthers.
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.