Wild Times

Florida Forever Projects Changed for 2006

The state of Florida approved revisions to the Florida Forever land acquisition lists in mid-February. Proposed by the Acquisition and Restoration Council, the 2 lists outline Florida's priorities for land acquisition over the next year.

“Over the past six years, Florida has conserved nearly 1.2 million acres of land,” said Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Colleen M. Castille. “Today’s approval continues the Florida Forever legacy by focusing the program’s resources on conservation and recreational areas that provide the state with the greatest return on our investment.”

Changes to the Florida Forever lists include:

• Projects completed and removed from list: Letchworth Mounds and Searcy Estate, both completed.
  
  
• Projects moved from Group B to Group A: Pumpkin Hill Creek and Clear Creek/Whiting Field (Phase I), willing sellers.
  
  
• Projects moved from Group A to Group B: Pine Island Slough Ecosystem, unwilling sellers.
  
  
• Projects with boundary amendments: Yellow River Ravines, addition of 974 acres.
  
  

The 10-year, $3 billion Florida Forever program established by Governor Jeb Bush and the Florida Legislature in 1999 conserves environmentally sensitive land, restores waterways and preserves important cultural and historical resources.