Kaylyn, a proud 10th generation Floridian, is deeply connected to the unique landscape of Southwest Florida, near the Western Everglades. Raised barefoot among oak hammocks and cypress tree domes, she inherited a legacy of pioneering ancestors who settled in this region, fueling her passion for protecting this remarkable place.

Overcoming the challenges of teen single motherhood and poverty, Kaylyn has gained invaluable experiences that have shaped her commitment to safeguarding Florida’s natural treasures.

With over a decade of hands-on experience in agriculture, land management across the Southern United States, and invasive species removal, she has become a proactive advocate and spokesperson for the state’s environmental challenges.

Outside of her professional life, Kaylyn enjoys backpacking, exploring new destinations, embarking on historical adventures with her son and family across Florida, and relishing trail rides and hikes with her beloved hound dogs.

Thank you for joining and supporting her on this journey. Together, let’s work to protect

Learn more about Kaylyn and the works she does:

• https://www.instagram.com/kaylynglenn/
• https://www.kaylyngladeswomanglenn.com/
• https://conservationfla.org/

There have been a ton of updates since the last episode about the proposed plan to develop nine Florida state parks. Namely, part of the project proposal has been withdrawn. Great news but the story isn’t over…

Places to follow for most up-to-date news and additional info:

• Max Chesnes - Environmental Reporter, Tampa Bay Times
• Florida Wildlife Federation, who broke the story
• Ryan Worthington, the Florida Excursionist
• Florida Madcaps Podcast - Crisis in the State Parks

There are not many folks more central to the idea of a “connected and protected” Florida than Dr. Tom Hoctor. He’s the director of the Center for Landscape Conservation Planning at the University of Florida and is the co-founder of the Florida Wildlife Corridor, considered one of the most ambitious landscape conservation plans in the country.

As we’ll learn, the concept of a statewide ecological corridor is not new. Decades of scientific research has led to the understanding that connected landscape-scale conservation is imperative to the survival of many species and among the best methods of preventing habitat loss and fragmentation.

Before it was called the Florida Wildlife Corridor, this idea of a connected greenspace in the Sunshine state was known as the Florida Ecological Greenways Network,

More info about Dr. Hoctor and links to topics discussed:

• Faculty page, University of Florida
• Florida Wildlife Corridor History
• University of Florida Center for Landscape Conservation Planning
• University of Florida Bureau of Economic and Business Research (BEBR)

Do you have an idea for a guest for the show? Submit guest suggestions here.

I have missed posting an episode for the last couple of months, but the good news is I’m catching up today with three guests at once!

Joining us for a talk about conservation, recreation, and education are the Florida Madcaps, made up of Chelsey and Chris Stevens and Ryan Worthington. They’re three friends who love to volunteer, guide, and educate Floridians on our best natural resources. Although they all do their own form of volunteering and advocacy, they join forces weekly to produce the Florida Madcaps podcast to talk about these topics.

I figured I’d start sharing other podcasts to listen to as they’re more consistent and do a great job sharing new places to explore in wild Florida.

Episode resources:

• Listen to the Florida Madcaps anywhere you get podcasts.
• Website: https://thefloridamadcaps.buzzsprout.com/
• Social: https://www.instagram.com/florida_madcaps_podcast/
• You can follow Chelsey and Chris, aka the Sunshine State Seekers here: https://www.instagram.com/sunshinestateseekers/
• You can follow Ryan, aka the Florida Excursionist here: https://www.instagram.com/the_fl_excursionist/
• Their episode about the 2024 Legislative Session and Environmentally Harmful Bills with Ryan Smart of the Florida Springs Council can be found here.
• Bradenton Herald’s recent feature of Florida Uncut can be read here: https://www.bradenton.com/news/local/article289855064.html

If you have an idea for a future FU guest, please submit that to our guest suggestion form here.

Hey folks!

The show was recently featured in the Bradenton Herald and we have a lot of new listeners. You can read that article here: ‘Saved or paved.’ Palmetto-based podcast host explores Florida conservation stories

If you have an idea for a future Florida Uncut guest, please fill out this form.

Looking forward to bringing you more stories very soon!

How does the Florida Wildlife Corridor help provide resilience to climate change?

Florida is ground-zero for climate change impacts as our natural and human communities grapple with increasing heat, flooding, sea level rise, and wildfire risk.

In today's episode, we talk with Joshua Daskin, the Director of Conservation at Archbold Biological Station, about a recent assessment with Florida Atlantic University that identified the overlaps between land conservation in the Florida Wildlife Corridor and the resilience of the state's nature and people to advancing climate change. Archbold's conservation program uses the report's results to credibly motivate the Corridor's protection.

At Archbold, Josh works to expand the use of science in conservation of biodiversity and ecosystems. He leads Archbold's conservation strategy, connecting researchers with agencies, landowners, NGOs, and science collaborators to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of conservation actions from Archbold's own 20,000 acres to the statewide Florida Wildlife Corridor and beyond.

Since 2021, he has been a leader of the scientific arm of the campaign to conserve the Corridor.

Josh earned a B.S. in Biology and Environmental Studies from Brandeis University, a M.Sc. in Zoology while a Fulbright Scholar at James Cook University in Australia, and a Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Princeton University. Previously, Josh researched the impacts of war on African wildlife and helped reestablish scientific capacity in Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique following the country's civil conflict. He was also a Donnelley Postdoctoral fellow at Yale University, a biologist in the US Fish and Wildlife Service headquarters office, and a research assistant at Archbold.

Articles and links mentioned in the episode:

• Climate and Wildlife Corridors overview page: https://www.archbold-station.org/projects/climate-and-wildlife-corridors/
• The Florida Wildlife Corridor and Climate Change Full Report: https://archbold-cms.payloadcms.app/media/ClimateReport_FINAL_04152024-1.pdf
• Planning Future Landscapes report: https://www.archbold-station.org/projects/cfrpc/
• Florida Wildlife Corridor Planning and Development Data (database of current building permit requests): https://archbold-cms.payloadcms.app/media/FLWC%20Statewide%20Study%20-%20Summary%20Report%20(2023-10-23).pdf
• The full interactive ‘Bear Necessities’ Story Map of M34, the Black Bear that inspired the FWC: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/0cdea7371c874357a9307ac8ea701568
• FWC and Climate Change Water Report Executive Summary: https://archbold-cms.payloadcms.app/media/Climate%20Report%20-%20Executive%20Summary%20FINAL-2.pdf

Craig is a native Floridian and spent over 30 years as a journalist for the Tampa Bay Times. He has authored a half-dozen award-winning books about the wild ideas and quirkiness of our state. Among his publications are Oh Florida!, Cat Tale, The State You're In, and Manatee Insanity.

In 2022, Craig was given the Rachel Carson Award by the Sierra Club, which honors sustained achievement by professional journalists or authors and was also awarded a Florida Literary Legend by the Florida Heritage Book Festival.

Craig is now a columnist for the Florida Phoenix and co-hosts the weekly Welcome to Florida podcast.

https://www.instagram.com/craigpittman78/

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/welcome-to-florida