Spread the Word About Sustainability

| 10/1/2007

Protecting Our Land and Waters

From the time Spaniards planted their flag in Florida in 1565 — 445 years ago — more than 2,600 square miles has given way to urban development in the seven county central Florida area known to many as myregion.org. With current low-density growth patterns and projected population growth rates, the region stands to loose another 2,600 square miles to development in the next 45 years.

This dire scenario is playing out across Florida. At issue is what will happen to our cities, farmlands and natural resources.

With the possible exception of Alaska, no state’s economic sustainability is more closely linked to environmental sustainability than Florida. A healthy environment directly generates income for many Florida residents through the tourism industry, including boating, hunting, fishing, birdwatching, hiking, kayaking, ecotourism and our beaches.

In 2000, 71.5 million people visited Florida resulting in $117 billion total economic output, 1.75 million jobs, and $78 billion in gross state product. Economists increasingly document that natural landscapes are valuable amenities and key attractors for population growth.

There is a growing recognition that protecting the lands and waters that provide us with clean water, clean air, recreation and wildlife habitat is a critical component of sustainable development. Effective and equitable environmental preservation can only occur with coordination among and cooperation between the numerous entities that make and/or have a stake in land use decisions.

New towns and cities are already coming into existence or are in the planning process. Increasingly, as with Babcock Ranch, these developments are integrating economic and environmental values.

One question facing Florida is whether the state’s agricultural lands will be here to enjoy in 50 years. To many, Florida’s ag lands are the next place to turn to absorb the state’s swelling population. And to those who seek to protect Florida’s natural resources, the state’s ag lands provide multiple environmental benefits, such as the provision of wildlife habitat and water treatment and storage.

The Council is helping organizations explore options that protect the most vulnerable landscapes while ensuring sustainable economic growth and agriculture.

Century Commission for a Sustainable Florida

Charged with creating a statewide 50-year vision for Florida, the Commission’s first step was to identify Florida’s most precious natural places with its Critical Lands and Waters Identification Project (CLIP).

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

As part of the state’s Action Plan to preserve wildlife, the Commission calls for the development of a Cooperative Conservation Blueprint that will help protect the most vulnerable landscapes and habitats while ensuring sustainable economic growth and agricultural opportunities. The Century Commission’s CLIP data is feeding this effort.

Economic Incentives

[Photo courtesy Visit Florida]

These efforts to identify land with the highest and most significant natural resource value can produce different opinions. Traditionally, the perception is that the valuation of environmentally sensitive land decreases when identified. Therefore, it is vitally important that these efforts also address economic issues while engaging agriculture and private land owner interests. As noted earlier, there is value in preserving protecting rural and agricultural lands.

Programs like the Rural Lands Stewardship Act provide for market-based tools to encourage the preservation and restoration of natural landscapes. When engaging stakeholder groups — especially those from the private land owner community — efforts will stress the desire to limit regulation if economic policies and tools can create the same desired conservation.

Contact the Council if your organization would like to hear more about these efforts or become engaged in the conversation about new market-based incentives, conservation, smart growth and sustainable working and natural landscapes.

Tags: Environment