Florida has long been recognized as a leader among the 50 states for a number of valuable technological and governmental advances. None of them has been more nationally recognized as forward-thinking than our Florida Forever land-buying program. So it came as an enormous disappointment when the news first hit this spring that the Florida House of Representatives decided to end the 20-year legacy of protecting and preserving what is wild, scenic and precious about Florida.
As campaign manager for the 1998 constitutional Amendment 5 for Conservation; as Florida Audubon's government relations director who worked on the legislation creating Florida Forever; and as the director of the Division of State Lands who implemented the Florida Forever Act from 1999 to 2007, I have had the honor and privilege to participate in the development of this wonderful program.
Combined with the earlier success of Preservation 2000, the programs have protected more than 2.5 million acres of forests, parks and wilderness areas. They are providing permanent protection for our unique wildlife species, and nature-based recreational opportunities for our residents and visitors. Florida Forever was also designed to focus on those types of natural resources and endangered species that had not yet been protected, and to finish projects started under Preservation 2000. The program is well on its way to accomplishing a number of those goals, but the job isn't complete.
For example, one of the most popular programs, the Greenways & Trails program, converts railroad beds into recreational trails. A number of them have been purchased to create an interconnected system throughout the state that also connects to large conservation areas and municipalities. The trail connectors are only about 20 percent complete. This is just one example of the many projects that will go by the wayside if we don't keep Florida Forever on the books and ready to go when the funding stream is re-energized.
Even as Florida residents are using recreational trails for transit, VisitFLA's polling in recent years indicates that visitors to Florida have been shifting their recreational focus to nature-based tourism. More people are incorporating visits to state parks, forests and wildlife management areas when they come to Florida. People want to experience what Florida is all about.
The House's decision is at odds with strong support for Florida Forever from the vast majority of Floridians. In 1998, when we had to pass a constitutional amendment to keep what had been the Preservation 2000 program going, the amendment passed with 72 percent of the vote. Now, environmental groups are polling, and support for Florida Forever is at 80 percent and higher.
The Florida House is struggling with leadership issues, or I believe this never would have happened. They don't see that Florida Forever provides far more than just state parks and wildlife protection.
Florida Forever contributes to our economic engine every time the state buys a property. The owner takes the money and invests it in a new development, pays off bills to the local vendors, or buys a new site for a town center. And for those state properties that ultimately get surrounded by private development, those homeowners love living next to a state preserve, park or other state conservation property. Permanent green space behind homes adds value.
Florida Forever and the benefits it generates are woven into the fabric of our economy. The Florida Legislature is full of creative, bright and well-intentioned people. In the waning days of the 2009 session, they have stepped up to the plate for this program at a time when it needed their support. Senate Bill 2430 will fix a key loophole in the law that provides for the bonding and funding for Florida Forever.
If Gov. Charlie Crist follows suit and signs SB 2430, we will be able to let out a big sigh of relief.
People love to visit the wild and scenic places in Florida. We need to do all we can to protect those places for future generations yet to come.
Eva Armstrong was director of Florida's Division of State Lands between 1999 and 2007 during Gov. Jeb Bush's administration.
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