EcoAction Alert

Land conservation is the most effective tool we have to ensure a future for Florida’s native plants and native plant communities. It has never been more important than NOW, in the face of rapid loss of our remaining natural areas to land development, for Florida to recognize the urgency of the moment and dedicate much more funding to land conservation. The Legislature is now finalizing the state’s budget - tell them to increase funding for land conservation!

Please take a moment to email or telephone Representative Thad Altman, Chair of the Conference Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources, and his counterpart Senator Jason Brodeur, who is serving as Vice-Chair. Tell them Florida needs to dedicate at least $300 million to each of our land conservation programs – Florida Forever and the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program – while we still have an opportunity to beat the bulldozers and protect the most vulnerable lands.

Let Chair Altman and Vice-Chair Brodeur know that:

• Florida’s economy is booming and more money for land conservation is available. More than $1 billion has been deposited into the Land Acquisition Trust Fund over the last year; however, only a small fraction of that amount is currently proposed for land conservation.

• The Legislature’s emphasis on protection of lands within the Florida Wildlife Corridor reflects a recognition that the window-of-opportunity for successfully protecting those lands is closing rapidly. This demands a greater sense of urgency and more robust budget for land conservation.

• Recent measures advanced by the Legislature convey a recognition of the fundamental importance of land conservation to the preservation of our state’s natural heritage, water resources, thriving economy and enviable quality of life.

• The Florida Forever and Rural and Family Lands Protection programs are complementary programs capable of securing the lands necessary to protect the Florida Wildlife Corridor and other vulnerable lands through a strategic combination of fee-title acquisitions and conservation easement purchases.

• Please ensure the level of funding for land conservation is commensurate with the urgency of the moment by dedicating $300 million to each program – Florida Forever and Rural and Family Lands.

You can reach Representative Altman at [email protected], or by phone at (850)717-5032. It would be especially helpful for members who reside in Representative Altman’s Brevard County district to contact him. You can contact Senator Brodeur at [email protected] or by phone at (850) 487-5010. Senator Brodeur’s district encompasses Seminole County and part of Orange County. Even if you do not reside in one of these counties, it is important to for you to contact these legislative leaders. Their decisions on land conservation funding will affect all of us!