Land Acquisition

Why Buy and Manage Land?

In Florida, land and water are interconnected and interdependent, in both obvious and subtle ways. Managing and restoring land helps to preserve water resources. In a landscape defined by water - by coastlines and lake shores, inland waterways and wetlands - the lands neighboring or underlying these water bodies are parts of a complex ecological puzzle.

To restore, preserve and manage water resources, the lands beneath or bordering lakes or rivers; bays or estuaries; or low-lying wetlands also need to be preserved and managed. Sometimes this means that the District or other state, local or federal governments need to buy lands, and retain ownership or access on behalf of the public.

Florida Forever - 2008 Workshops - to help local communities preserve land are scheduled in February and March 2008. Funds will be available to local governments and non-profit environmental organizations to acquire land for green space, conservation, and recreation purposes. The deadline for submitting applications is 5:00 p.m. (EDT), May 7, 2008.

Land is a key component in most efforts to restore and/or healthfully manage ecosystems from central Florida to the Florida Keys. Restoration efforts where land plays an essential role include the Kissimmee River, Lake Okeechobee, the Loxahatchee River, the Everglades and the Big Cypress Preserve, Florida Bay, the St. Lucie River and Indian River Lagoon and the Caloosahatchee River. There are more projects requiring land acquisition or management, but these are among the most familiar and popular.