The Florida Panther Conservation Bank: America’s First Federally Approved Panther Habitat Bank

December 31, 2025

For years, people watched the panther’s future hang by a thread. Habitat was disappearing fast under the pressure of growth in Southwest Florida, and traditional patch-by-patch mitigation just wasn’t keeping up. Something bigger was needed.

That’s when a handful of forward-thinking leaders stepped up with a different idea: instead of reacting to losses after they happened, why not get ahead of them? Why not protect large, connected stretches of prime habitat before they are needed — and do it in a way that still allows responsible development to move forward?

From that vision came the Florida Panther Conservation Bank in 2004.

Working hand-in-hand with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, it became the first federally approved and certified habitat conservation bank dedicated to the endangered Florida panther — and the first of its kind anywhere in the nation. It marked a real shift: moving from scattered, short-term fixes to a unified, science-driven, landscape-scale approach that actually gives the panther a fighting chance.

A Vision Built on Landscape-Scale Conservation

The bank is owned and operated by Florida Panther Conservation, LLC, founded in 2004 by brothers Les and Jim Alderman — fifth-generation Floridians, lifelong outdoorsmen, and passionate land stewards and conservationists.

The bank sits right in the heart of the Panther Focus Area and connects into the Dispersal Zone, protecting 2,500 acres of high-quality, connected habitat critical for the panther’s long-term recovery. The land was chosen carefully for its ecological richness, its role in linking corridors, and its ability to support movement, breeding, and dispersal across the region.

The key difference? This isn’t reactive. The habitat is permanently protected, actively managed, and monitored before any impacts occur. When mitigation is needed, the conservation is already there delivering real, on-the-ground results instead of promises.

Setting the Standard for Panther Mitigation

As the pioneer in panther conservation banking, it created the framework still guiding mitigation today. Its service area covers the full Panther Focus and Dispersal Area, so credits can offset impacts across a wide, ecologically meaningful region.

By consolidating protection into one large, forever-wild landscape, the bank achieves far greater benefits than scattered, small-scale efforts ever could. Long-term management, monitoring, and enforcement keep that value intact for the panthers and the many other species that call Florida Panther Conservation Bank home.

Certainty for Permittees, Confidence for Regulators

The bank gives everyone involved a clear, dependable path under the Endangered Species Act. Credits come from the habitats that are already protected, evaluated, and approved so agencies know the ecological value is real, not hypothetical.

For developers and permit applicants, it means less red tape and more predictability. No scrambling to assemble land, coordinate with agencies, or figure out perpetual management. You can meet your obligations through a trusted, regulator-supported conservation bank.

A Lasting Conservation Legacy

At its core, the Florida Panther Conservation Bank is more than a mitigation tool. It is proof that smart planning can make development and conservation work together. With foresight and commitment, we can grow responsibly while leaving room for wild Florida to endure.

As pressure on panther habitat keeps building, this model stands out as a practical way to protect an endangered species, provide regulatory certainty, and create a positive, lasting impact on the landscape.

If your project might affect Florida panther habitat, purchasing Panther Habitat Units (PHUs) through an established conservation bank like Florida Panther Conservation Bank can simplify the permitting process while supporting permanent, meaningful conservation.

Let’s keep the wild heart of Southwest Florida beating strong. Reserve Panther Habitat Units (PHUs) through the Florida Panther Conservation Bank, the proven, straightforward way to meet permitting requirements while helping secure connected, forever-protected landscapes for this iconic cat and everything that depends on it.

Questions? Ready to explore options? Drop us a line today or send us a message. We are happy to walk you through how it works.