This already exists, says Fleming, in a program called the
Habitat Conservation Plan, which Defenders of Wildlife is working
to implement in Collier County in southwest Florida.
The Habitat Conservation Plan is intended to protect sixteen
different species indigenous to Florida that are listed under the
ESA. One of these is the severely endangered Florida panther.
The habitat of the
endangered Florida panther
(pictured) is being squeezed
by development. These
cats once roamed freely
throughout the southeastern
United States. Nowadays
they are often killed by
cars traveling on roads that
crisscross their habitat.
