ABSTRACT
In recent years Florida has earned a reputation for the effective use of land acquisition as a tool to protect its unique and beautiful places. Since 1990, Florida has protected parkland, rare forests, wandering rivers, cold springs, trails, historic sites, and spectacular beaches totaling the equivalent of 3,797 square miles. This conservation legacy is the result of Florida Forever, a $300 million annual State investment in an array of preservation projects. A complex, multi-faceted program, Florida Forever and its predecessor, Preservation 2000, have succeeded by constantly responding and adapting to environmental needs in a large, dynamic, and highly diverse state.
