Tom Hoctor & Reed Noss: The History of the Florida Wildlife Corridor

Long before the Florida Wildlife Corridor became a statewide movement, it began as a scientific question: How do we conserve wildlife in one of the fastest-growing states in America? In this episode, Mason and Zach sit down with two of the most influential conservation scientists in Florida history, Dr. Thomas Hoctor and Dr. Reed Noss, to explore the origins, evolution, and future of the Florida Wildlife Corridor.  Together, they trace the roots of corridor science from the emerging fields of conservation biology and landscape ecology in the 1970s and 1980s to the development of the Florida Ecological Greenways Network (FEGN), the scientific foundation of today's Florida Wildlife Corridor. The conversation examines how ideas from island biogeography, regional planning, road ecology, and wildlife connectivity shaped a vision that ultimately influenced conservation efforts far beyond Florida. Tom and Reed discuss the mentors, thinkers, and movements that inspired their work, including Larry Harris, and the emergence of conservation biology as a discipline. They also reflect on how Florida's approach to large landscape conservation helped inspire connectivity initiatives around the world, from Yellowstone to Yukon to wildlife corridor efforts in Bhutan and beyond. The episode also celebrates the release of their new book, *Regional Landscape Conservation Planning: Wildlife, Connectivity, and the Florida Model*, which chronicles decades of science, planning, policy, and partnerships that helped shape one of North America's most ambitious conservation networks. The book explores how Florida combined scientific research, land acquisition programs, growth planning, and public engagement to create a model for regional conservation in the 21st century. Whether you're a conservation professional, student, landowner, or simply someone who cares about the future of wild Florida, this episode offers a rare opportunity to hear directly from two of the architects behind the science that continues to guide conservation across the state. ### Dr. Thomas Hoctor Director of the Center for Landscape Conservation Planning at the University of Florida, architect of the Florida Ecological Greenways Network, and co-founder of the Florida Wildlife Corridor. Tom has spent decades developing spatial conservation planning tools that guide land protection efforts throughout Florida. ### Dr. Reed Noss One of the world's leading conservation biologists and a pioneer in landscape-scale conservation. Reed's research on habitat fragmentation, biodiversity conservation, and ecological connectivity helped establish many of the scientific principles that underpin modern wildlife corridor planning. Buy their new book! - Regional Landscape Conservation Planning: Wildlife, Connectivity, and the Florida Model **Resources mentioned in the episode:** - The History of Florida Wildlife Corridor Science and Planning Efforts - The Fragmented Forest by Larry Harris - Benton MacKaye's 1921 proposal for the Appalachian Trail - Richard Forman's foundational work in landscape ecology - Michael Soulé and the emergence of conservation biology - Orlando Sentinel story about wildlife Corridors - 1984 - 1000 Friends of Florida Greenways Program - Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative - EPA’s National Ecological Framework - Bhutan Biological Corridors Program - California Essential Habitat Connectivity Project - Forgotten Grasslands of the South: Natural History and Conservation by Reed Noss & E.O. Wilson