Northwest Florida Greenway

The Northwest Florida Greenway is an unprecedented partnership of military, government and nonprofit organizations that will conserve critical ecosystems in one of the most biologically diverse regions in the United States, enhance the Panhandle's economy and help protect the military mission in northwest Florida.

On November 12, 2003, the state of Florida, the U.S. Department of Defense and The
Nature Conservancy signed a groundbreaking Memorandum of Partnership to establish a 100-mile protected corridor that connects Eglin Air Force Base and the Apalachicola National Forest.

Environmental Significance

Florida's Panhandle is one of the United States’ top six most biologically diverse regions. It harbors:

• 75 percent of Florida’s plant species;
• 23 federally endangered and 13 federally threatened species;
• old growth longleaf pine forests; and
• healthy rivers, bays and estuaries.

The Northwest Florida Greenway will help protect vast forests in Florida's Panhandle. © Don Herring/FNAI

National Security and Economic Importance
Eglin and Tyndall Air Force Bases, Whiting Field, Pensacola Naval Air Station, and the Naval Surface Warfare Center collectively represent one of the nation’s largest open air military testing and training areas.

In 2002, these northwest Florida military installations contributed $5.9 billion to Florida’s economy. The Northwest Florida Greenway will create a buffer zone between nearby communities and critical flight paths needed for military personnel training and defense development.

Northwest Florida Greenway program area

Project Goals

The Northwest Florida Greenway project aims to:

• Promote the sustainability of the military mission in northwest Florida to meet national defense testing, and operational and training requirements.
• Protect lands that will sustain the high biodiversity of the region, link protected natural areas, preserve water resources and provide areas for outdoor recreation, including the Florida National Scenic Trail.
• Strengthen the regional economy by sustaining the mission capabilities of the military in the region and enhancing outdoor recreation and tourism. 

For More Information

To view the Memorandum of Partnership, click here.
To view the Memorandum of Agreement, click here.

For additional information about the Northwest Florida Greenway, please contact:

Deborah Keller
Phone: (850) 222-0199
E-mail: dkeller@tnc.org

Jesse Borthwick
Eglin AFB
Jesse.Borthwick@eglin.af.mil

Mollie Palmer
FL Department of Environmental Protection
mollie.palmer@dep.state.fl.us

Walker Banning
FL Department of Community Affairs
walker.banning@dca.state.fl.us