For the Love of Florida

I firmly believe that Florida is the best place to live, work, visit, explore, and more.

I want to live here, raise a family here, and will continue to be a champion for our state’s prosperity. It’s no surprise to me that others want to be here, too. But, as we grow, we have to keep a keen eye on what we save, and what we pave.

Freshly grown food, breathable air, fishable lakes, and swimmable beaches are not guaranteed. We must be good stewards of our land and water today. That’s why Conservation Florida’s team is working to protect Florida’s natural and agricultural landscapes for future generations.

IMPACTFUL, BOOTS-ON- THE-GROUND WORK

Conservation Florida is a statewide land conservancy grounded by a deep love for Florida and a history of impactful, boots-on-the-ground land conservation that is working to conserve natural and agricultural lands. We are a land conservancy founded by Floridians, with a statewide service area dedicated to the protection of our water, wildlife, and wild places, and to connecting the Florida Wildlife Corridor. From Pensacola to the Florida Keys, Conservation Florida has prioritized strategic and evidence-based land protection since our founding in 1999.

We are helping cattle ranchers in the Florida Wildlife Corridor and in the Greater Northern Everglades place conservation easements on their family lands so that they can continue to operate in our state. We are establishing preserves in densely developed urban areas to provide access to nature and open spaces. We are also working with businesses, civic groups, municipalities, and residents to save places of special cultural, historical, or ecological significance in communities throughout Florida. Thanks to you, our generous donors and partners, we are truly shaping Florida’s conservation future.

In 2020, we formed the H2O, a regional conservation partnership spanning six counties in the Avon Park Sentinel Landscape. The H2O partnership includes communities, state agencies, landowners, and the Avon Park Air Force Range. As a direct result, thousands of acres of high- priority habitat in this region will be permanently protected.

In 2021, our targeted advocacy played a substantial role in the passage of the Florida Wildlife Corridor Act and the allocation of $400 million to the state’s Florida Forever land protection program.

Currently, your Conservation Florida team has more than 60 active conservation projects, totaling over 100,000 acres, underway in support of Florida’s native plants and wildlife, fresh water, wildlife corridors, family farms and ranches, the economy, and nature- based recreation. You make this work possible, and we are grateful every day for your support.

FLORIDA’S GREEN WAVE

Conservation Florida is proud to support local conservation ballot measures. Floridians of all stripes – red, blue,
and independent – voted to pass such measures in Polk, Brevard, Indian River, Alachua, Pasco, and Nassau counties during the November 8 election.

“Floridians don’t always agree, but we do find common ground in the land and water we share. It’s a great love of place. It’s part of our ethos, our Floridian ethic, our heritage, and our legacy.”

Voters in these counties join Collier, Volusia, and Manatee counties in supporting natural resource protection. Conservation ballot measures at the county level provide a steady, reliable source of funding to protect land that provides essential services to our local communities.

It's hard to put a price on things like woods, water, and wildlife until you
start to lose them. That's when their true value becomes crystal clear. For those of us who have lived here for
a while, it hits you when you drive by the woods you've passed every day for decades and, suddenly, they're gone. For newcomers, it's the feeling you get the first time you visit a Florida spring and are taken aback by its beauty. Everyone has a reason to stand up and protect wild Florida.

Floridians don’t always agree, but we do find common ground in the land and water we share. It’s a great love of place. It’s part of our ethos, our Floridian ethic, our heritage, and our legacy.

A MOMENT LIKE NO OTHER

We're moving in the right direction, but we have a lot of work to do, friends. With your help and our continued shared values, we can have it all here in our beloved state. We can continue to grow our economy and population, while also saving the special places that can never be replaced.

If you agree with me, and I know in my Floridian heart that an overwhelming majority of you do – regardless of your age, gender, race, background, and political beliefs – then join Conservation Florida as we work to save our water, wildlife, wild places, and conserve the Florida Wildlife Corridor.

With public support at an all-time high, bipartisan political support, and a marked increase in funding for conservation and land stewardship, this is our chance! Join us today for the love of Florida and its future.

About Conservation Florida:

Conservation Florida is a statewide accredited land conservancy working to conserve Florida’s water, wildlife, wild places, and protect the Florida Wildlife Corridor. The organization’s conservation projects support Florida’s native plants and wildlife, fresh water, wildlife corridors, family farms and ranches, the economy, and nature-based recreation. Since its founding in 1999, Conservation Florida has prioritized strategic and evidence-based land protection and has saved over 30,000 acres of critical habitat.