Preserving Levy County’s rural charm and natural heritage for future generations
Levy County has a significant portion of the Florida Wildlife Corridor with more than
400,000 acres identified as potential corridor area.
The Agriculture 2040/2070 report demonstrates how the loss of as much as 2.2 million acres of agricultural land over the coming decades will impact the important contributions provided by agriculture to Florida’s economy and quality of life and threaten the conservation values that many of these lands provide.
Welcome to the Levy 2040 Project, a collaborative initiative between 1000 Friends of Florida and the University of Florida’s Center for Landscape Conservation Planning (CLCP). Our goal is to provide landowners and decisionmakers in Levy County with the tools, strategies, and policy recommendations necessary to protect Florida’s vital wildlife corridor, protect Levy County’s rural quality of life, and adapt to changing environmental and economic conditions.
Levy’s rich biodiversity and agricultural heritage support the local and state economy. However, the county’s natural and agricultural lands are increasingly vulnerable to sea level rise, land use changes, and economic shifts.
With rural communities in Levy County at the forefront of balancing protecting agricultural operations and environmental conservation with economic development, the Levy 2040 project seeks to engage residents, leaders, and landowners in planning for the future. Protecting Levy County’s unique assets—like the expansive Waccasassa Bay Preserve and the Cross Florida Greenway corridor—is essential to sustaining the natural beauty and quality of life that define the region.
We invite all stakeholders to participate in this collaborative planning process to ensure a resilient future for Levy County while preserving what makes it a natural paradise for generations to come.
Events
On October 24th, 2024, we gathered in Bronson for a community presentation and discussion of Levy County’s future growth and development trajectory. We shared the 2040 project scenario maps for growth and policy recommendations for protecting rural and agricultural lands while facilitating economic development. We heard from residents about recent development projects, and their desire to protect Levy County’s rural quality of life. We hope this event served as an introduction to 1000 Friends of Florida and look forward to meeting more Levy County residents and local leaders interested in smart community planning and protecting Levy’s rural and agricultural lands.
Maps
The Florida Ecological Greenways Network (FEGN) is a statewide database that identifies and prioritizes a functionally connected statewide ecological network of public and private conservation lands. It is also the key layer providing the science foundation for the Florida Wildlife Corridor. Click the image above to view the UF Center for Landscape Conservation’s dashboard, and review Florida Wildlife Corridor lands identified in Levy County.