Florida Forever Florida Forever was created in 2001 to succeed the extremely successful Preservation 2000 conservation program. Under Florida Forever and Preservation 2000, Florida has protected more than 2.4 million acres of land.
To name just a few successes, Florida Forever has protected:
53,600 acres of springs and springsheds.
5,190 acres of fragile coastline.
300,000 acres of sustainable forest lands.
158,700 acres of working agricultural lands.
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Upper St. Marks River Corridor (Leon, Jefferson and Wakulla counties): Quietly meandering through some of Florida’s most precious habitat, the St. Marks River makes its way toward the Gulf of Mexico. It is pocked with sinkholes, springs and karst windows. A successfully purchased St. Marks River Corridor project will achieve Florida Forever’s key goals of preserving biodiversity, creating “landscape-size” protected areas, sustaining valuable water resources and safeguarding historical sites. Click on the photo to enlarge.
Fisheating Creek Ecosystem (Glades and Highlands counties): Located in south-central Florida, Fisheating Creek is the only undammed tributary of Lake Okeechobee. The dry prairies and freshwater marshes within the project boundary are extremely important to help ensure the survival of the Florida panther and black bear. Several bird species also use this habitat, including: the American swallow-tailed kite, crested caracara, snail kite, grasshopper sparrow, sandhill crane, red-cockaded woodpecker and short-tailed hawk. Click on the photo to enlarge.
Adams Ranch (Osceola County): The 30,000-acre parcel on the south side of Lake Marian is central to the Adams Ranch beef operations and also protects environmentally valuable lands. Working with the Nature Conservancy, there are plans to preserve parts of the ranch through conservation easements. The Adams Ranch, under the leadership of Alto “Bud” Adams Jr., is leading a pioneering effort to conserve 12,000 acres of highly valued environmental land near Fort Pierce through the application of the Rural Land Stewardship Program.
Baldwin Bay/St. Marys River (Duval and Nassau counties): With close proximity to Jacksonville and access to the Atlantic Ocean, the St. Marys River sees its share of users, past and present. The purchase of the Baldwin Bay/St. Marys Florida Forever project will create greater potential for recreational opportunities on the river and in the surrounding forest, including hunting, fishing, hiking, camping and photography. The project will connect the Jacksonville-Baldwin Rail Trail, which is key in helping equestrian access. Click on photo to enlarge.
Indian River Lagoon Blueway (Volusia, Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie and Martin counties): For good reason the Indian River Lagoon Blueway is one of Florida Forever’s top 21 acquisition projects. Spread over five counties, this project area supports more than 100,000 registered saltwater anglers. While being recreationally important, the Indian River is home to the largest manatee population in the country and is vital to migratory birds and estuarine fishes. The Indian River Lagoon is a state aquatic preserve, an Outstanding Florida Water, an Estuary of National Significance, and home to the world’s first national wildlife refuge – Pelican Island (pictured). Click on photo to enlarge.
Lake Wales Ridge Ecosystem (Osceola, Lake, Highlands and Polk counties): Stretching from Orlando to Lake Okeechobee, the Lake Wales Ridge is a unique desert-like habitat topped by a scrub “forest” that shelters one of the largest collections of rare organisms found nowhere else in the world. Only a small percentage of “natural” Lake Wales Ridge remains. It has been almost entirely converted to orange groves and housing developments. Many of its rare inhabitants may become extinct soon if this ecosystem is not protected. Florida Forever seeks to purchase what’s left of the Lake Wales Ridge, not only to save the endemic wildlife but also to preserve this unique landscape for recreation. Click on the photo to enlarge.
As Florida Forever Day at the Capitol swiftly approaches, the Coalition will be counting down ten of the most at risk Florida Forever projects. Without funding, we risk losing these properties forever. The photos from each of these ten locations were generously donated by the Legacy Institute for Nature and Culture. We encourage you to visit Tallahassee for Florida Forever Day on April 7, to see the full exhibit in person. If you can’t make it to the Capitol, be sure to check out the website on April 7, when we will release the full exhibit as an online gallery.
On March 4, 2010 the Florida Chamber of Commerce backed Florida Forever funding. Mark Wilson, president and CEO of the Florida Chamber of Commerce stated, “The Florida Chamber believes the Florida Forever program makes an important contribution to the long-term economic well-being of our state and preservation of the quality of life of our next generation.” Now we need you to reach out to your local Chamber of Commerce.
Let them know that Florida Forever has protected 2.4 million acres of land. These lands have protected Florida’s water, fragile coastal systems, wildlife habitats, created parks for recreation, and provided Florida with substantial economic benefits. Florida Forever helps sustain our award-winning Florida State Parks and supports the hunting, fishing and wildlife watching that supported 120,000 jobs in 2007, generating approximately $6.8 billion in retail sales and $706 million in state and local taxes. Let your local Chamber know that land conservation makes dollars and sense! Please use the resources below to help your Chamber pass a resolution supporting Florida Forever.
The Economic Benefits of Land Conservation
Sample Resolution in Support of Florida Forever
The Florida Chamber of Commerce Supports Florida Forever
On March 10, the Alliance of Florida Land Trusts sent legislators a letter calling for continued support of the Florida Forever program and emphasizing the economic benefits of land conservation.
The Alliance of Florida Land Trusts supports full funding of the Florida Forever program. This funding is consistent with the Legislature’s unanimous approval of the ten-year renewal of Florida Forever in 2008….This month Mark Wilson, President & CEO of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, endorsed this funding request because “the Florida Forever program makes a critical contribution to the long-term economic well-being of our state and preservation of the quality of life of our citizens.”
Click here to read the full letter!
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Florida Forever Stories"Our Homosassa River Garden Club is one of many local organizations that wish to have a voice for the continued survival of the Florida Forever funding as we have great hopes to be a small part in helping raise the additional outside local funds for the saving of the Three Sisters. Giving our community and the public the opportunity to learn, observe and enjoy the area where the Manatee and the pure water of the springs in the Kings Bay of Crystal River under a Park program will be a haven for not only Manatee but the encouraging of conservation by example. Please do not cut this funding as the public passed many local and state referenda related to land conservation. This action is out of step with public conservation. President Obama is proposing putting people to work and finding jobs, many jobs will be created by continuing this Forever Florida funding most especially saving Three Sisters." -Homosassa River Garden Club |
