How Private Investment Is Accelerating Florida’s Conservation Goals
Florida’s natural lands protect drinking water, sustain wildlife, support agriculture, and preserve the outdoor heritage that defines our state. Protecting them at the scale of the Florida Wildlife Corridor means layering federal programs, state funding, philanthropic capital, and private investment — and coordinating all of it toward the same goal. That’s the work Live Wildly does.
Making Every Conservation Dollar Go Further
Live Wildly connects federal, state, and local conservation programs with private partners and philanthropic investors to keep high-priority land protection projects moving. When private capital is paired with public funding, conservation dollars go further — a targeted private investment can unlock much larger public funding opportunities, stretching limited dollars and accelerating timelines.
What Match Funding Looks Like in Practice
Florida philanthropist, entrepreneur, and Live Wildly founder Arnie Bellini has demonstrated what this looks like on the ground.
Eagle Haven Ranch — 2,312 acres, Lake Kissimmee When Eagle Haven Ranch was declared surplus state property in 2020 and slated for luxury resort development, Bellini stepped in as a conservation buyer. His purchase bought time for Conservation Florida to assemble $9 million for a permanent easement — ultimately drawing in the U.S. Department of Defense’s REPI Program and the USDA’s Agricultural Land Easement Program alongside private supporters. One private investment unlocked multiple public funding streams at once.
Lake Marion — 639 acres, Polk County When 639 acres of hardwood forests, scrublands, and freshwater marshlands along Lake Marion came to market unexpectedly, Bellini moved quickly to purchase the property. He held the land while Conservation Florida worked out a financing deal with Polk County, the Department of Defense, and the Florida DEP — protecting habitat that would otherwise have been lost to development.
Bellini also serves on the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation Board of Directors.
Why the Corridor Needs This Model
The Florida Wildlife Corridor spans nearly 18 million acres of public and private lands stretching from the Everglades to the Panhandle. Protecting the remaining gaps takes speed, creativity, and capital that public programs alone can’t always provide. Development pressure doesn’t wait for funding cycles — private investment fills that gap.
Florida’s Growth Makes This Urgent
Florida is one of the fastest-growing states in the country. As communities expand, the window to protect critical lands narrows. The stakes are practical as much as environmental — healthy lands and waters support tourism, agriculture, resilience to storms and flooding, and the quality of life that attracts people and businesses to Florida. Bringing private capital into the conservation funding mix is one of the most effective ways to keep pace — protecting land before the opportunity is gone. Have questions about conservation funding? Contact us.
