To avoid double counting acres where multiple programs contributed to the acquisition of a single parcel, the parcel acreage is only aggregated under the program that provided the majority of funding. For example, if the chart displays a dollar amount greater than $0, but also shows 0 acres, it is because the program was not the primary contributor for any parcels in that year.
Local Conservation Programs Include
Alachua County
Brevard County
Broward County
Charlotte County
Collier County
Lee County
Flagler County
Hillsborough County
Indian River County
Leon County
Martin County
Miami-Dade County
Osceola County
Palm Beach County
Pinellas County
Putnam County
Seminole County
St. Lucie County
Pasco County
Lake County
Sarasota County
Volusia County
Please visit www.landvote.org for detailed information on these programs.
| Year | Acres | Dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 11,917.8 | $247,625,542 |
| 2007 | 17,202.8 | $246,932,572 |
| 2006 | 15,253.4 | $207,318,288 |
| 2005 | 4,780.4 | $94,205,509 |
| 2004 | 18,415.5 | $103,601,995 |
| 2003 | 22,130.4 | $65,208,062 |
| 2002 | 12,843.9 | $72,510,617 |
| 2001 | 13,396.4 | $81,326,098 |
| 2000 | 10,066.3 | $58,266,229 |
| 1999 | 16,344.4 | $33,592,601 |
| 1998 | 11,647.9 | $50,898,599 |
| Totals | 153,999.1 | $1,261,486,117 |
The Preservation 2000 (P2000) Program was created in 1990 and expenditures concluded in 2001. Within this time period 1,781,489 acres of lands were protected. Over the 10-year span, P2000 was funded by an annual $300 million bond for a total of $3 billion. Revenues from the documentary stamp tax supported the annual bond. A small amount of revenue for P2000 was derived from the severance tax on phosphate.
Upon the conclusion of P2000, bi-partisan support in the state legislature led to a successor program, Florida Forever, the nation’s largest land conservation program. Florida Forever addresses a wide range of conservation objectives including the restoration of damaged environmental systems, water resource development and supply, increased public access, public lands management and maintenance, and increased protection of land via conservation easements. Like P2000, Florida Forever provides $3 billion over 10 years for conservation purposes backed by the state documentary stamp tax and annual appropriations.
In July 2008, the Florida Forever program was extended through 2020 at $300 million a year.
Annually the state issues $300 million in bonds from the documentary stamp tax. The money, when appropriated by the legislature, has been distributed by DEP to the following agencies/programs:
-30% ($90 million) to the five water management districts for purchase of conservation lands and for water resource development. These dollars are further divided among the districts as follows:
• 35% ($31.5 million) to the South Florida Water Management District
• 25% ($22.5 million) to the Southwest Florida Water Management District
• 25% ($22.5 million) to the St. Johns River Water Management District
• 7.5% ($6.75 million) to the Suwannee River Water Management District
• 7.5% ($6.75 million) to the Northwest Florida Water Management District.
-35% ($105 million) to DEP for the purchase of projects on the Florida Forever List.
-21% ($63 million) to the Department of Community Affairs for grants to local governments under the Florida Communities Trust Program (FCT).
-2% ($6 million) to DEP for park infrastructure project grants under the Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program (FRDAP).
-1.5% ($4.5 million) each to the Florida Division of Forestry (DOF), DEP’s Division of Recreation and Parks (DRP) and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWCC) for the purchase of “inholdings and additions” to existing conservation areas.
-1.5% ($4.5 million) to DEP’s Office of Greenways and Trails (OGT) for purchase of recreational trails and corridors.
-3.5% ($10.5 million) to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for the conservation of working farmlands under the Rural and Family Lands Protection Act.
-2.5% ($7.5 million) to the Florida Department of Community Affairs (DCA) for the preservation of working waterfronts under the Stan Mayfield Working Waterfronts program.
In 1981, the Florida Legislature enacted the Save Our Rivers Program (SOR). The legislation established the Water Management District Trust Fund, which receives revenues from the documentary stamp tax and is administered by the Department of Environmental Protection. The legislation also enables the five water management districts to acquire lands necessary for water management, water supply, and the conservation and protection of water resources. The Trust Fund also received revenue from the Preservation 2000 Act.*
| Year | Acres | Dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 35,750.0 | $232,213,448 |
| 2007 | 64,146.4 | $298,462,575 |
| 2006 | 123,859.2 | $577,096,234 |
| 2005 | 100,311.7 | $161,418,546 |
| 2004 | 48,711.1 | $109,159,966 |
| 2003 | 141,780.6 | $234,189,898 |
| 2002 | 145,622.8 | $175,289,732 |
| 2001 | 12,182.7 | $60,321,312 |
| 2000 | 87,868.7 | $274,410,588 |
| 1999 | 232,910.8 | $346,861,315 |
| 1998 | 105,676.0 | $241,893,229 |
| Total | 1,098,820.0 | $2,711,316,847 |
The Florida Communities Trust (FCT), administered by the Department of Community Affairs has been a major recipient of P2000 and Florida Forever funds. FCT grants require a local growth management plan and are prioritized based on how well the grant will advance this management plan.
*§62-402; §373.59
| Year | Acres | Dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 0.0 | $1,182,773 |
| 2004 | 0.0 | $1,864,184 |
| 2003 | 0.0 | $121,499 |
| 2002 | 0.0 | $1,771,461 |
| 2001 | 0.0 | $957,315 |
| 2000 | 49.7 | $2,699,486 |
| Total | 49.7 | $8,596,720 |