The Perdido-Eglin Critical Linkage
The Perdido-Eglin critical linkage is the western-most critical linkage in the state, serving as the link between the Florida Ecological Greenways Network and important conservation land in Alabama. It creates a corridor between Eglin Air Force base, and Perdido Wildlife Management area while also connecting Escambia River Wildlife Management area and Blackwater River State Forest.
Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties, where this critical linkage crosses through, are experiencing rapid growth as people grow more interested in this still rural corner of Florida. A joint study conducted by 1000 Friends of Florida and the Center for Landscape Conservation Planning found that Escambia County’s population is expected to grow over 9% from 2023-2040, and Santa Rosa’s population is expected to grow more than 24% over the same time frame. By 2070, Escambia county is expected to reflect a 22% population increase, and projects for Santa Rosa County show a significant 59% increase.
Losing natural lands to development is not the only concern; approximately 6,000 acres are expected to be loss to sea level rise by 2040. Although smart growth could benefit the residents of the region, unchecked growth can hurt local culture, threaten history as well as thwart efforts for a successful Perdido-Eglin Critical Linkage and connecting the Florida corridor network to Alabama. Protection of important natural resources in the linkage also protects land important for water quality regulation, recreation, storm resilience, biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and other ecosystem services.
Despite growth concerns, positive projects are occurring within the counties where the critical linkage lies. The Coastal Headwaters Longleaf Forest project is a proposed state land acquisition project that would preserve over 99,000 acres in its complete state. The project would preserve working timberland and provide resource protection for the Escambia River watershed. In addition to preserving timber production with sustainable forestry methods that include a 5-year prescribed fire rotation, ecological restoration to longleaf pine forest would occur on some tracks of land. The project would help protect rare plants and animals, such as the Florida Flame Azalea, White Top Pitcher Plant, reptile, and bird species.
This linkage brings an important question for the Florida Ecological Greenways Network and conservation goals for the state: how do we work with adjacent states to ensure landscape connectivity across state borders? The Center for Landscape Conservation Planning strives to work with out-of-state partners in Alabama and Georgia to ensure Florida’s network of conservation land continues beyond the state.
Unprotected Land Cover Maps for the Perdido-Eglin Linkage
The future of the linkage is dependent on the protection of currently unprotected land within this FEGN / Florida Wildlife Corridor priority one region. This map provides a breakdown of the types of unprotected land cover in the Perdido-Eglin linkage.
