Florida Forever Coalition Growing, Surpasses 100-Member Mark

More than 92 percent of Florida’s residents live in counties that support Florida Forever.

TALLAHASSEE, FL — March 27, 2008 — Because of the enormous grass-roots support for Florida Forever — and the urgent need for land conservation funding in our state — more than 100 groups, businesses, and associations have now joined the Florida Forever Coalition.

In addition, 38 counties have now passed resolutions in support of Florida Forever — counties that account for more than 92 percent of the state’s total residents. Furthermore, another 19 cities have passed resolutions.

This week two important committees — House Conservation and State Lands and Senate Environmental Preservation and Conservation — are considering draft bills to reauthorize Florida Forever. The Florida Forever Coalition is working actively with both committees on these bills.

“Dozens of groups, and thousands of citizens, are joining the Florida Forever Coalition — calling and writing their legislators — because of Floridians’ commitment to our state’s investment in land conservation,” said Jeff Danter, state director of The Nature Conservancy, a Florida Forever Coalition steering committee member organization. “The growth of the Florida Forever Coalition, and the actions taken by county and city governments, speak loudly about the importance and popularity of Florida Forever.”

Florida Forever has acquired more than 600,000 acres since 2000 and allocates $300 million annually to purchase land. Today virtually all of the funding through 2010 is already obligated for anticipated land purchases. A lengthy list of land identified by the state as important for our future drinking water supply, economy and quality of life remains unprotected.

"Florida Forever is crucial to protecting habitat for the incredible variety of wildlife in our state. From bears to butterflies, and for people too, Florida's land conservation programs have saved precious, healthy natural resources for us all," said Laurie Macdonald of Defenders of Wildlife, another Florida FCoalition steering committee member group.

"It is essential to both current and future generations of Floridians that we preserve what makes Florida so special. Our wildlife habitat, water resources, recreational opportunities, and unique cultural heritage will vanish without a strong successor program," said Pepper Uchino of The Trust for Public Land, another Coalition steering committee member group.

The Florida Forever Coalition Web site at www.supportfloridaforever.org offers citizens a wide variety of information about the program and ways to get involved in creating its successor.

The Florida Forever Coalition is an organization of more than 100 groups that cross all stakeholders. More than half of Florida’s 67 counties and 19 cities have passed resolutions in support of Florida Forever and the need for a successor program. For more information visit www.supportfloridaforever.org.