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Continue Legacy By Extending Florida Forever Land Program

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 24, 2007

The Florida Legislature did residents, present and future, a great disserve last spring by rejecting Gov. Charlie Crist's proposal to increase by $100 million funding for one of the state's most important initiatives - the Florida Forever land preservation and conservation program.

Doing so would have allowed land managers to take advantage of the slow real estate market and reduced land prices.

The nearly seven-year-old program, which receives about $300 million annually in documentary stamp taxes, has less than $35 million dollars in the kitty. Yet state and local officials have identified more than $11 billion in projects worth pursuing. And the program is scheduled to die in 2010.

Lawmakers' refusal to pony up more money wasn't a good sign for the future of land preservation in Florida.

Without question, the program needs to be continued. Its success can be seen throughout the state, where more than 535,000 acres of environmentally sensitive lands, wildlife habitat and aquifer recharge areas have been protected from development.

Florida has a tradition of saving open spaces and natural resources. The first such program, Preservation 2000, succeeded in preserving 1.7 million acres of land. Combined with Florida Forever, the two programs have shielded more than 2.2 million acres from development.

The land program is a hit with the public. More than 25 Florida counties have created similar programs, including Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco. In certain cases, the state makes grant money available to help offset local expenditures. And all sales are voluntary on the part of landowners.

It's mind-boggling that anyone would fail to see the value of a program that helps protect our state's beauty and natural resources.

Concern about whether the Legislature will continue the program has prompted several environmental groups to discuss the need for a constitutional amendment that would mandate the program and guarantee a funding source. If the Legislature doesn't soon signal its intent, by all means the petition drive should proceed.

Some supporters want to expand the program's mission by targeting agricultural and rural lands that aren't environmentally sensitive. Others suggest offering tax exemptions to landowners who preserve their lands as wildlife corridors. And some suggest purchasing more conservation easements or development rights.

All are excellent ideas, considering that more creativity is needed to protect dwindling green spaces and get the biggest bang for our bucks.

But more accountability is needed, too. State officials must do a better job appraising land to avoid overpaying, as a state audit determined. The growth management watchdog group, 1000 Friends of Florida, put it this way: "We need to create a transparent system that allows owners to receive 100 percent of the value of their property - not more or less."

Continuing the state's land preservation and conservation program is critical. Florida's population is expected to double to 36 million by 2060, with 7 million more acres converted to urban uses, according to 1000 Friends of Florida.

Preserving more land for future generations is a legacy that would make Floridians proud.

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