In addition to working to permanently protect land in Florida through purchase, conservation easements, and partnerships, AFLT also advocates for local and state policies that support these efforts. Below are a list of state programs that reflect the priorities of the AFLT and advances land conservation.

FLORIDA POLICY AGENDA

FLORIDA FOREVER
Seek dedicated funding and leverage partnership resources to complete acquisition projects.

Florida Forever is the nation’s largest public land acquisition program of its kind. Projects for this program are nominated then ranked for purchase and permanent protection. Florida Forever funding is appropriated by the Legislature then distributed by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to a number of state agencies and programs to purchase public lands in the form of parks, trails, forests, wildlife management areas and more. All of these lands are held in trust for the residents of Florida. Securing annual funding for the Florida Forever program through the state legislature is a top priority for the AFLT and Florida land trusts work with partners to leverage funding potential and ensure the permanent protection of Florida’s lands. For more details on the Florida Forever program and for the source of the above information, please click here.

RURAL AND FAMILY LANDS
Seek dedicated funding.

The Rural and Family Lands Protection Program is an agricultural land preservation program designed to protect important agricultural lands through the acquisition of permanent agricultural land conservation easements. The program is designed to meet three needs:

• Protect valuable agricultural lands.

• Create easement documents that work together with agricultural production to ensure sustainable agricultural practices and reasonable protection of the environment without interfering with agricultural operations in such a way that could put the continued economic viability of these operations at risk.

• Protect natural resources, not as the primary purpose, but in conjunction with the economically viable agricultural operations.

While those programs focus on protecting and preserving the natural environment and providing nature-based recreational opportunities, the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program focuses on maintaining the agricultural land base in Florida. The program recognizes that a thriving rural economy with a strong agricultural base and viable rural communities is essential to Florida's future. Easements for this program will work together with agricultural production to ensure sustainable agricultural practices and reasonable protection of our natural resources. This program will protect agricultural lands in the path of development so that Florida will continue to maintain a viable agricultural sector in our state's economic base, so the citizens of Florida can continue to enjoy rural landscapes and open space, and in so doing provide simultaneous protection of environmentally significant areas. For more details on the Rural and Family Lands Protection program and for the source of the above information, please click here.

FLORIDA COMMUNITIES TRUST
Seek dedicated funding and leverage partnership resources to complete acquisition projects.

Florida Communities Trust (FCT) works in partnerships with entities like land trusts to assists communities in protecting important natural resources, providing recreational opportunities and preserving Florida's traditional working waterfronts through the competitive criteria. These local land acquisition grant programs provide critical funding for land trusts to acquire land for parks, open space, and greenways. The source of funding for Florida Communities Trust comes from Florida Forever proceeds. For more details on the Florida Communities Trust and for the source of the above information, please click here.