“If we don’t save the wild parts of Florida, they’re not going to be here in 10 years,” said Danna Bramlet, Director of Development for the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation.
Founded in 2004 by National Geographic photographer Carlton Ward Jr. and Mallory Dimmitt, the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation is dedicated to championing collaborative efforts to help preserve and protect the Florida Wildlife Corridor. A statewide network of 18 million connected acres, the Corridor spans from the everglades to the borders of Alabama and Georgia and is an important part of Florida’s ecosystem. It also provides vital services such as water filtration, flood control, and pollination, essential for the state’s economy to thrive.
The Foundation’s work was instrumental in the passage of the Florida Wildlife Corridor Act, which provided over $400 million for state funding to protect Florida’s wild places.
Though the passage of this Act was a huge step forward, the Foundation’s work is far from over. A key strategy that the Foundation uses to champion the Corridor is by bringing awareness through art. Its St. Petersburg office is home to their Wild Space Gallery, which features the work of local and nationally renowned artists that display an appreciation of the transformative power of nature. Through the curation of these exhibitions, the Foundation hopes to create a space where the community can experience the beauty of the Florida Wildlife Corridor.
“When our organization was first conceived, it was really telling the story about the Corridor through art,” Bramlett said. “We used art, photography, paintings, films, to be able to tell that story. Why the Corridor is so important to the state of Florida for clean water and animals being able to migrate and also the plant life.”
The Foundation also brings together hundreds of leaders in the business and conservation communities through its multi-day summit Corridor Connect. Held every other year, Corridor Connect is a gathering where attendees come together to bring awareness to conservation efforts, identify the Corridor’s most pressing challenges, and mobilize groups to take action to address them. Corridor Connect 2025 will be held at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, a location of special significance to the Foundation and the Corridor.
“We picked that space because it is literally the last green thread that will connect that side of the Corridor, linking the Everglades headwaters to the Green Swamp,” Bramlett said.
For those who want to participate in the Foundation’s work to preserve the Corridor, there are many ways to get involved, including becoming a part of their Speakers’ Bureau. As a statewide organization, the Foundation’s team gives talks on the importance of protecting the Corridor all over Florida and is now looking for volunteers to help spread the word.
“We’re looking for volunteers that are very interested in the Corridor and what we’re doing,” Bramlett said. After some training provided by the Foundation, these volunteers will be able to “go into the community and help give presentations to school groups, community organizations, and others,” she said.
To Bramlett and her colleagues, preserving the Corridor is not simply a cause, but a deeply personal mission. “We want to save the Corridor not just for us but for all Floridians,” Bramlett said. “I want to save it so that my granddaughter and younger generations can have the opportunity to enjoy it because it is a really unique place.”
Members of the Tampa Bay Chamber since 2023, the Foundation celebrated a ribbon cutting last year for their Headquarters and Wild Space Gallery.
DID YOU KNOW:
On September 11, 2024 the Foundation announced the selection of documentary filmmaker Page Buono for its upcoming Strand to Slough expedition! Buono is a director, writer, and producer with Day’s Edge Productions. The Emmy-nominated director has also directed and produced numerous short films for science education and conservation advocacy. As part of the Strand to Slough Expedition this fall, individuals selected from Trekker Applications will hike, bike and paddle within the Florida Wildlife Corridor with the filmmaker and her crew. Learn more.
Wild Space Gallery, located at 2606 Fairfield Ave S., BLDG #7, St Petersburg, Florida 33712 is open to the public every Wednesday-Friday from 2-6pm and Saturdays from 2-8pm. The hours are extended until 9pm for the Second Saturday Artwalk.