The St. Marks-Apalachicola Critical Linkage

The St. Marks–Apalachicola Critical Linkage is a narrow and geographically small but vital wildlife bottleneck linking Florida’s Panhandle to the Peninsula. Protecting it ensures safe passage for black bears and potential future panther reintroduction while safeguarding key riverine systems, springs, and the surrounding natural ecosystems and timberlands. These landscapes provide critical habitat as well as aquifer recharge, water quality protection, and coastal resilience benefits. Development along the coast, sprawl from Tallahassee, and expanding road networks make this linkage highly vulnerable.