Florida Forever and its predecessor, Preservation 2000, have protected more than 2.4 million acres of land. The land has many uses, from recreation to water quality preservation to protecting our military. Florida Forever has touched nearly every county in Florida and greatly improved our great state’s quality of life. Here are just a few examples of how Florida Forever is making out state a better place:
Water Resources:
- Florida is blessed with the largest concentration of first magnitude springs of any comparably sized region on Earth. First magnitude springs are defined as springs that have a flow equal to or greater than 66 million gallons of water per day.
- The majority of Florida’s drinking and agricultural water supplies are derived from the same groundwater aquifers that are the sources of Florida’s beautiful and celebrated springs.
- Growth and development in a recharge or springshed area directly affects the quality and supply of Florida’s drinking water. Florida’s surface waters are also an increasingly important source of water for cities, industry and agriculture.
- Healthy surface waters provide flood control, nourishment of coastal waters and estuaries, and refuge and nursery habitat for freshwater and marine life.
- To date, Florida Forever has protected more than 53,600 acres of springs and springsheds.
Parks and Recreation:
- Florida Forever acquisitions provide tremendous opportunities for fishing, hiking, biking, hunting, canoeing/kayaking, wildlife watching and much more.
- The Florida Communities Trust program, through Florida Forever funding, makes grants to local governments and nonprofit organizations to help acquire community-based parks, open spaces and greenways. FCT is the state’s premiere mechanism for helping local communities preserve open spaces, recreational areas and historical landmarks.
- The Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program (FRDAP), partially funded through Florida Forever, provides grants to local governments for the acquisition and development of parks and open space. Projects range from passive trails to active recreation ballfields and amenities. These components of a local government’s parks and recreation plan return the investment of funds to the community and state by providing healthy lifestyle opportunities and economic impacts through tourism.
Working Agriculture:
- Agriculture is the second largest economic engine in Florida and a major employer. In 2006, the state’s forestry and cattle-ranching industries generated $9.8 billion and supported at least 195,000 jobs.
- Florida Forever has helped preserve 158,700 acres of working agricultural lands, and many Floridians’ rural way of life by allowing for Florida farmers and ranchers to stay in production while preserving valuable natural resources.
Conservation and the Military:
- Florida Forever acquisitions protect the state’s estimated $52 million in economic benefits generated annually by the defense industry.
- Without permanent conservation, undeveloped lands face conversion that is potentially incompatible with military training and readiness needs. Noise, air quality and safety considerations are best mitigated with buffers.
- “The United States Navy has benefited greatly from the Florida Forever program in preserving biodiversity and in limiting incompatible growth adversely impacting Florida’s Naval Bases,” said Vice Admiral Michael C. Vitale, Commander, Navy Installation Command.
Our Coast:
- Florida’s 1,197 miles of shoreline are one of its most important resources. Sandy beaches and a temperate sea harbor a diverse array of flora and fauna, and attract millions of tourists annually.
- A study of Florida visitors notes that in 2006 alone, beach tourism created 275,630 jobs and contributed $24.1 billon to Florida’s economy, including $355 million in state sales tax.
- This tourist activity and its associated development, however, place Florida’s coastal areas under intense development pressure that threatens to destroy the very resources that make them so popular.
- Despite the rapid expansion of shore-based development, Florida Forever has managed to conserve 5,190 acres of fragile coastline.
Wildlife and Habitat:
- Florida is home to a remarkably rich variety of plant and animal species. Many of these species are restricted to a single location or area of the state by natural habitat needs, and some native Florida species do not occur anywhere else on Earth.
- The severe rate of development in Florida over the past few decades has put these already imperiled species and their unique habitats in even greater danger.
- Only through extensive conservation efforts are we able to stop or slow this destruction.