Take Action for Manatees!

Manatee Supporters: We Need Your Help!
Ask Governor Crist to Put Florida Forever Funding in His Budget

The Issue:

In 2008, the Florida Legislature passed legislation that was signed into law by Governor Charlie Crist, approving $300 million annually for the next 10 years to fund Florida Forever. Unfortunately, despite this legislative authorization, no money was allocated to Florida Forever during the 2009 legislative session for fiscal year 2009-2010. With your help, we’re hoping to get Florida Forever back in the governor’s budget for 2010-2011.

A very small appropriation can ensure the following: that Florida Forever will continue, that landowners will be able to negotiate with the state in full faith, and that the most critical pieces of wild Florida will continue to be protected. A commitment of $15 million from the governor (a mere 0.0002% of his $66 billion budget), would allow the state to borrow up to $300 million to allow Florida Forever to continue protecting Florida’s wild places. A commitment of only $5 million would allow the state to borrow up to $100 million for Florida Forever. With land prices down, there has never been a better time to purchase conservation land in Florida and we need to take advantage of this opportunity!

Get More Info:

- See a list of the priority acquisition projects in your county that can only be made possible by continued funding for Florida Forever. In your comments to the governor, feel free to include comments about a particular site on this list that is special to you and why it is important to protect this land for the future.

- Learn more about Florida Forever.

- Get more information about the Florida Forever Coalition, of which Save the Manatee Club is a coalition member.

What You Can Do:

1. Add your information below to send a quick email to Florida Governor Charlie Crist, telling him that you’re committed to Florida Forever and asking him to show his commitment by putting Florida Forever funding in his budget for fiscal year 2010-2011.

2. Please donate now so we can continue our work to protect manatees and their habitat.

Thank you for your help and support!

July 30, 2010

Subject:
Put Florida Forever Funding in Budget

Dear Governor Crist

Please include Florida Forever funding in your proposed budget for 2010-2011. Since it was created in 2001, the Florida Forever program acquired more than 638,600 acres of land for conservation, which has helped safeguard habitat for 200 of our state's protected species. As you know, the Florida Forever program received no money in the fiscal year 2009-2010 budget.

A very small appropriation can ensure the following: that Florida Forever will continue, that landowners will be able to negotiate with the state in full faith, and that the most critical pieces of wild Florida will continue to be protected. A commitment of $15 million (a mere 0.0002% of your $66 billion budget), would allow the state to borrow up to $300 million to allow Florida Forever to continue protecting Florida's wild places. A commitment of only $5 million would allow the state to borrow up to $100 million for Florida Forever.

With land prices down, there has never been a better time to purchase conservation land in Florida and we need your leadership in order to take advantage of this opportunity!  Please put Florida Forever in your budget for 2010-2011 and show the legislature that you are committed to Florida's future because you are committed to the Florida Forever program.

I look forward to hearing your position on this important issue that is so critical to the protection of Florida's wild places.

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