Florida's land preservation program at risk

Florida's visionary plan to keep its natural treasures out of the hands of developers is running low on money and set to expire in 2010. Any lawmaker who won't renew it is asking to be replaced.

Florida Forever and its predecessor, Preservation 2000, have managed to acquire 2.3-million acres of vital conservation lands over the past 17 years. The swamplands and flatlands and sandy ridges and pinewoods and coastal greenways are being protected by the one method that is without controversy in a state where developers are generally given the green light. These lands are put into public ownership, removing them from the market forces and development pressures that threaten to urbanize 12-million acres by the year 2050.

"We recognize that at the current pace of development," writes a coalition of public-interest groups, "if we do not take action now, we may never have the opportunity to preserve our biologically important natural resource lands."

The push to renew Florida Forever is falling on such deaf ears in the Legislature that seven different planning and environmental organizations have formed a steering committee to push for a constitutional amendment. They are even approaching members of the independent Taxation and Budget Reform Commission, which has the authority to place amendments on the 2008 ballot.

"We know the people of Florida are strongly behind this program," says Florida Wildlife Federation president Manley Fuller. "We're just looking for a way to let them decide."

Fuller is right about the program's extraordinary popularity, and maybe a constitutional amendment is the best way to protect any designated tax source for land purchase from being raided by envious lawmakers. But the sad fact is that the original program - the $3-billion, 10-year Preservation 2000 - took only the foresight of former Republican Gov. Bob Martinez and the support of the 1990 Legislature.

If anything, the program is even more popular today. Conservation land purchase is no longer just a state endeavor. It has spread to 28 counties, many of them approving programs and taxes by referendum margins approaching 80 percent.

By contrast, the current Legislature, led by Senate President Ken Pruitt and House Speaker Marco Rubio, rejected a request this year by Gov. Charlie Crist to infuse Florida Forever with a meager $100-million to take advantage of reduced land prices in a depressed real estate market.

Crist, who brings strong environmental credentials to the office, is ideally situated to lead the charge for Florida Forever. His message would be simple: The Division of State Lands has only $25-million left for land purchase, yet the state has identified $11-billion worth of existing land that should be put under public ownership. We owe it to ourselves and future generations to keep the program alive.

Whether the land-buying should continue to be financed by real estate documentary stamp taxes or another source is less important at this point than the political commitment to extend Florida Forever. Condos and office towers have their place in a prospering economy, but Floridians also deserve to know that some of their natural spaces will be spared.

With a push from Gov. Crist, the Legislature should at least be shamed into putting the issue to voters. This is something people have demonstrated they want and are willing to pay for.

[Last modified November 10, 2007, 21:10:26]