OCALA, FL (352today.com) – The equine industry is Marion County’s largest economic driver – contributing more than $2.6 billion annually to the local economy. More than 12,000 farms and 80,000 equines (covering nearly every breed and discipline) call Marion County home, giving the area the opportunity to proudly boast the title “Horse Capital of the World.”

Horse Farms Forever (HFF) is Marion County’s farmland preservation organization, and each year, its Conservation Summit unveils new initiatives and partnerships that will bolster protection for the established Farmland Preservation Area (FPA), and ultimately, the local economy.

This year, HFF’s Conservation Summit expands beyond the organization’s primary focus to include an elusive and endangered species: the Florida Panther.
Courtesy: Horse Farms Forever/Elma Garcia-Cannavino

This year, preservation efforts expand beyond that of the organization’s familiar equine mascots to include an elusive and endangered species: the Florida Panther.

HFF will host its 4th Annual Conservation Summit on Thursday, Nov. 16, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Arena. The event’s keynote speaker, Carlton Ward, Jr., is a National Geographic filmmaker and conservation photographer, whose quest to document south Florida Panther populations led to the creation of an award-winning film, Path of the Panther, produced by Leonardo DiCaprio.

What do panthers and horses have to do with one another?
With the discovery of a larger-than-expected Florida Panther population, comes more funding for environmental conservation.

Ward’s documentation of the Florida Panther led to the creation of the Florida Wildlife Corridor Act along with $800 million in funding for the corridor, which aims to improve natural habitats and protect Florida’s water resources, mirroring the vision of HFF. The funding for the Florida Wildlife Corridor also allows for a significant impact in creating conservation easements.

Although the Florida Wildlife Corridor and the FPA do not overlap, the partnership between the two organizations will unify conservation efforts statewide – from the Everglades to the Panhandle.

The FPA and the Florida Wildlife Corridor both reside in portions of Marion County, a fragile yet essential area for Florida’s environmental health due to its many watershed and spring areas.

Summit attendees will also hear from Mallory Lakes Dimmitt, CEO of the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation and Traci Dean, President and CEO of Conservation Florida. Purchase your tickets to attend here. Cost is $40.

Due to growth and development demand, HFF was established in 2018 and created what is now known as the FPA, which covers 193,000 acres in the northwest portion of Marion County. HFF works with city, county, and state developmental organizations to protect and preserve the designated FPA to protect soil and water resources and minimize land use conflicts. Learn more about Horse Farms Forever here.