Ocala summit to host ‘Path of the Panther’ conservationist Carlton Ward Jr.

The Florida panther may not call the stables of Ocala home, but residents can learn all about the majestic animal and how they can support the expansion of its protected habitat at a summit next month.

Horse Farms Forever, an Ocala-based nonprofit dedicated to preserving horse farms and the city’s identity as the “horse capital of the world," plans to host its fourth annual “Conversations about Conservation” summit on Nov 16. The event will take place at Ocala Breeder’s Sales, located at 1701 SW 60th Ave. in Ocala.

“The purpose is to gather our industry and business leaders and landowners all under one roof to talk about conservation and to help inspire them to adopt a conservation ethic,” said Sara Fenessey, the group’s director of community affairs.

The Florida panther is only one beneficiary of the sprawling Florida Wildlife Corridor, a contiguous network of 18 million acres of land meant to serve as a habitat for the state’s endangered and threatened species.

Carlton Ward Jr., a National Geographic explorer and conservation photographer, will sign copies of his book “Path of the Panther” and deliver a keynote speech. Ward be joined by Mallory Lykes Dimmitt, CEO of the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation and Traci Deen, president and CEO of Conservation Florida.

Ward is the central character of the Leonardo DiCaprio-produced film of the same name, which chronicles his efforts to photograph the elusive animal.

“I want everyone who sees the film to have tremendous pride in the state of Florida and know about the Florida Wildlife Corridor and the importance of it for the state’s future,” Ward said of the film. “That’s why our team spent so many years focusing on the Florida panther. It’s a symbol of the need for protecting the corridor.”

More: Ocala highlighted as 'haven' in national media story. Here's why it earned the acclaim

Residents of north central Florida likely live near corridor-protected areas. And that section of the state is continuing to expand.

Ward’s book and film were integral in securing support for the Florida Wildlife Corridor Act, a law that secured over $400 million in state funding for land conservation in 2021. As of September, 46 parcels of land have been secured for the corridor, which equals more than 162,000 acres.

About 40% of Marion County fits into the corridor, including a portion of Ocala’s Farmland Preservation Area, which protects the area’s horse farms from urban sprawl.

Among the recent and local corridor expansions is the Longleaf Pine Ecosystem Project, which added nearly 500 acres to the Ocala National Forest in May. The species that’ll most help are red-cockaded woodpeckers, Florida black bears, gopher tortoises, eastern indigo snakes and Florida scrub jays.

Another nearby project guarded 135 acres of land encompassing the Rainbow River on the southwest corner of Marion County from further development.

“The Florida Wildlife Corridor sets a great example and model for those who live within the area,” Fenessey said.“It’s a part of Florida’s identity and at the heart of who we are.”

Residents who are interested in attending the summit can buy tickets, which cost $40, at the Horse Farms Forever website.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Ocala environmental summit to host conservationist Carlton Ward Jr.