Florida Conservation Group works to conserve the natural and agricultural lands most important for achieving Florida’s wildlife and water conservation goals. There are various land protection programs in Florida including federal, state, and local. Please see below for information on some of the most important state and federal programs.
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Department of Environmental Protection-Division of State Lands
Florida Forever
Florida Forever is the state land acquisition program and is run by the Division of State Lands (DSL). The program purchases properties with high conservation value, utilizing both fee-simple and less-than-fee acquisition strategies (conservation easements). DSL has a history of partnering with water management districts and county governments on conservation land acquisition.
The Florida Forever program has specific guidelines for acceptance including an application and vetting process that is a year to 18 months in duration. Once accepted into the program applications are ranked and placed into categories.
Florida Forever and its predecessor programs have been funded at $300 million annually since 1990; in 2008 this dropped dramatically with the economic recession. Florida Forever received 100 Million in funding in FY 2022/2023. Increasing annual consistent funding for Florida Forever is a high priority.
Florida Forever Contact
Deborah Burr
Deborah.Burr@floridadep.gov
Florida Forest Service
Rural and Family Lands Protection Program (RFLPP)
The RFLPP is an agricultural easement program run by the Florida Forest Service; it is designed to protect important agricultural lands through the acquisition of permanent land conservation easements. The purpose of the program is to protect working landscapes. RFLPP easements are less restrictive than other programs; they keep ranch and other agricultural lands from being developed into housing or other forms of land use that would destroy both agricultural uses and habitat. The program is very popular among landowners who would like to have flexibility with their agricultural operations.
The application and vetting process is approximately one year in duration. Once accepted properties are placed into one of three ‘tiers’; properties in Tier 1 are the most likely to receive funding. RFLPP received 300 Million for FY 2022/2023. RFLPP has a strong history of successfully leveraging their dollars with partnership funding from the NRCS ALE program and the Military’s REPI program for military base buffering. Strong consistent funding is essential to make sure the most important agricultural lands in Florida that are also important for wildlife and water conservation get protected instead of being developed.
RFLPP Contact
Hank Vinson
Hank.Vinson@fdacs.gov
Florida Forest Service
The Forest Legacy Program
The Forest Legacy Program aims to protect and conserve forests that are threatened by conversion to non-forest uses through the purchase of conservation easements or by fee-simple purchase of the land. The State Lead Agency in Florida is the Florida Forest Service, however, the U.S. Forest Service makes the final determinations on which projects across the nation are awarded funding. Florida, through the U.S. Forest Service Regional Office, can submit no more than 3 projects from the state to the national office for consideration each year; the maximum funding is $20 million per year, per state program may partner with other state and county government entities, as well as with private and non-profit organizations to leverage funding.
Florida’s Forest Legacy Area map identifies which portions of the state are eligible for protection under the Forest Legacy Program. Please see this map for an idea of where there are current Forest Legacy Areas: Florida Forest Legacy Areas Map / Florida Forest Legacy Program / Land Planning and Administration / Our Forests / Forest & Wildfire / Home – Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (fdacs.gov)
Forest Legacy Program Contact
Cat Ingram
Catherine.Ingram@FDACS.gov
NCRS ACEP
Wetland Reserve Easement
The Wetland Reserve Easement Program (WRE) is an easement program that purchases conservation easements on degraded or former wetlands in need of restoration. NRCS prioritizes wetlands that have been converted into other agricultural uses. NRCS will prioritize applications based on the easement’s potential for protecting and enhancing habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife. WRE’s can be more restrictive than other easements; NRCS has the right to restrict grazing rights for restoration purposes. NRCS has not restricted grazing rights in Florida as part of the WRE program, and they indicate it is highly unlikely they ever will, as cattle are an important management tool in Florida. Landowners also have the option to secure grazing rights on a WRE in perpetuity for a reduced rate. WRE’s tend to have a higher dollar value than other easements, due to their restrictive nature. The WRE program is an essential part of efforts to restore watershed function in the Everglades and other watersheds to provide storm water retention and water purification that addresses current water quality issues including freshwater and red tide algal blooms.
Wetland Reserve Easement Contact
Michael Bush
michael.bush@usda.gov
NCRS
Agricultural Conservation Land Easement Program: Agricultural Land Easements (ALE)
The ALE is a partnership program and is geared for working landscapes. NRCS provides financial assistance to eligible partners for purchasing Agricultural Land Easements that protect the agricultural use and conservation values of eligible land. Eligible partners include Indian tribes, state and local governments and non-governmental organizations that have farmland or grassland protection programs. The ALE program will provide up to 50% match for working agricultural lands and 75% where there are grasslands of special significance. NRCS does not purchase these easements, rather they contribute to the partner that is acquiring the easement. The Rural and Family Lands Protection Program (RFLPP) under the Florida Forest Service has been successfully partnering with the NRCS ALE program, enabling them to leverage their dollars; Water Management Districts and County Land Conservation Programs are also pursuing funding partnerships with the ALE program.
ALE Contact
Sara May
Sara.May2@usda.gov
Fish and Wildlife Service
Conservation Easements within the EHNWR boundary
FWS is currently acquiring property within the boundary of the Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge Conservation Area. They have identified 100,000 acres as appropriate for less-than-fee acquisition and 50,000 acres for fee-simple acquisition. FWS is working in partnership with other easement and acquisition programs to leverage these dollars.
EHNWR Conservation Easements Contact
William Miller
William_g_miller@fws.gov
Additional Resources and Information
Florida Water Management Districts
Florida Water Management Districts have had very active land acquisition programs in the past, although funding has fallen in recent years. Water Management Districts have a long history of partnering with county governments and DEP in fee simple and less-than-fee acquisitions.
Other Relevant Incentive Programs
Many landowners may prefer to engage in incentive programs that don’t involve selling a conservation easement. Please see our conservation assistance page for links to programs.