Too many times when environmental concerns run up against the rights of land owners and developers, with government regulators somewhere in between, all sides wind up in court. Solutions may be poor compromises that end up infringing on land owner’s rights and ultimately not really benefitting water quality, endangered species and land preservation. With the creation of the progressive Florida Panther Protection Program in Collier County, there is actual hope that a reasonable, science-based plan will be enacted that provides incentives to land owners and real hope for the Florida panther. The program is the brain child and legacy of the late Paul J. Marinelli, the former president and CEO of the Barron Collier Companies. It aims to create two wildlife corridors, one each in the southern and northern portions of Collier County that will preserve pathways for adult panthers to roam. Adult male panthers need several hundred miles of territory to roam. When too many cats are living in close proximity they fight to the death. With only about 100 of the cats remaining in the wild, there is also concern that without enough roaming habitat, genetic problems will appear that could doom the species to extinction. Both landowners and environmental advocates realized development plans were not going to allow enough roaming room for panthers. Instead of waiting for government to tell them what they could and couldn’t do, the two sides came to the table to begin working on real world solutions. The program will provide landowners with incentives for agricultural use. Those agricultural lands will then provide a buffer from development. The wildlife corridors will be designed to run through existing preservation lands and agricultural lands, and will be designed to be an attractive travel path for panthers. I recently attended a presentation on the program, and it was heartening to see representatives from Florida Audubon, Florida Wildlife Federation and the Friends of the Florida Panther Refuge sitting alongside private land owners, communicating effectively to the audience about the progress they have made so far. Instead of vilifying each other, they have reached the point where they can all respect each other’s point of view. Refreshing, to say the least, and perhaps this could prove to be a model other communities might be able to follow in search of effective preservation and wildlife protection solutions.