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EMERGENCY: Florida Legislature Poised to Gut Florida Forever Tomorrow!
Jan 14, 2009

Focus:Environment
Action Request:Various
Location:United States
 UPDATE!!! GOVERNOR CRIST HAS STEPPED IN AT THE LAST MINUTE AND VETOED ALL THE CUTS PROPOSED THAT WOULD HAVE DESTROYED FLORIDA FOREVER!
Please friends, even though this call for action was slated for today, don't stop taking action, anyone who has not please it is never to late to speak up!
From: Defenders of Wildlife, Florida Office
Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2009 5:52 PM
To: EFleming
Subject: EMERGENCY: Florida Legislature Poised to Gut Florida Forever Tomorrow!
Is Florida Forever history?  Tomorrow, the state legislature could cut 80% of the funding for this landmark conservation program in an unbalanced, short-sighted effort to axe state spending.  Take action to help save Florida Forever.
Florida Forever is the largest public land buying program in the nation and has helped protect more than one million acres of land and safeguard irreplaceable habitat for nearly 200 endangered species -- from sea turtles to gopher tortoises, to Florida panthers and black bears.
The fate of Florida Forever -- and the endangered wildlife it helps protect -- hangs in the balance.  Send a message to Governor Crist and your legislators right now and let them know you want our state's proud land conservation legacy to continue.
Florida Forever was established to safeguard vital wildlife habitat and environmentally sensitive land -- but it also makes Florida a better place to live by protecting our water resources, saving our coasts, preserving cultural and historical sites, and providing us with more parks and recreation areas. 
Despite the amazing success of this landmark program, the legislature is poised to slash funding for this landmark program tomorrow.  
The legislature made this decision with little advance notice and may not realize how important Florida Forever is to Floridians like you and me.  That’s why it’s so urgent that our state leaders hear from us today. 
Florida is one of the fastest growing states in the nation. That means that land conservation efforts are crucial to preserving the wild lands we have left for future generations.  And with the price of land at record lows, now is not the time to cut this vital program -- and its investment in local real estate markets -- off at the knees. 
Defenders of Wildlife and our allies in the Florida Forever Coalition are working overtime to protect Florida Forever.  But we need your support to succeed. 
The final vote will happen tomorrow, so please take action now to let your legislators know you support giving Florida Forever the funding it needs to continue to protect our special places and the imperiled animals that depend on them.
Thank you for taking urgent action to save Florida Forever,
Laurie MacDonald, Defenders of WildlifeLaurie Macdonald
Florida Program Director
Defenders of Wildlife
Why we need to support Florida Forever now more than ever:
  • Times are hard, and we all need to shoulder responsibility, but that doesn’t mean we should cut our conservation programs off at the knees.  
  • Other programs should share equally in budget reductions. An 80% budget cut is not fair and fails to recognize that the state’s economy relies on a healthy environment.     
  • Floridians strongly support land conservation and wildlife protection programs, even when times are tough.  
  • Breaking land acquisition contracts with landowners now will make them less likely to undertake the lengthy process required to sell land to the state in the future. Willing landowners are essential partners in conservation efforts across the state. 
  • Land acquisition projects help fuel the state and local economy, providing jobs to local workers and invigorating ecotourism across the state. 
  • Florida Forever?Green Sea Turtle (Photo: David Burdick, NOAA)
    Protecting habitat for sea turtles and other imperiled wildlife will be put on hold if drastic cuts are made to Florida Forever.
  • REMEMBER, USE MY OLD ADDRESS IF NEEDED:
  • 3000 SW 96th Avenue, Miami, FL., 33165

PLEASE! Act Now to Protect Florida Forever 12:17 AM

fwflogoFlorida Wildlife Federation ACTION ALERT

The Legislature is poised to make severe reductions in Florida Forever -- 80-90% of THIS YEAR's land buying funds are proposed for elimination.  
 
The final legislative vote is Wednesday, January 14, and the legislation will then go to Governor Crist for his signature.

Please e-mail or fax your legislators today with the following messages:
Full funding for Florida Forever is necessary -- and is consistent with the Legislature's unanimous approval of the the ten-year renewal of Florida Forever in the 2008 Session.
Provide funds for Florida Forever land purchases that have been negotiated in good faith with land owners and are ready to be executed.
Suspending or delaying Florida Forever projects will result in higher costs to taxpayers -- land that now can be acquired at a reasonable cost will soon be much more costly or unavailable.
Funding for land management must also be continued for all state conservation lands.  Don't raid land management trust funds.
Contact information for Legislators can be found at http://www.flsenate.gov/Welcome/ Towards the bottom of the left-side menu, go to "Find your Legislators" and type in your zip code.
Governor Crist's contact information is at http://www.flgov.com/contact_governor
For the latest updates on Florida Forever, visit the Florida Forever Coalition website at http://www.supportfloridaforever.org/.

About Florida Wildlife Federation

The Florida Wildlife Federation is a private, statewide, non-profit citizens' conservation education organization composed of thousands of concerned Floridians and other citizens from all walks of life who have a common interest in preserving, managing, and improving Florida's fish, wildlife, soil, water, and plant life.

 
Visibility: Everyone
Posted: Wednesday January 14, 2009, 12:26 am
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Debbie L. (180) 		Wednesday January 21, 2009, 11:52 am
Glaldy Signed and atwater called. thank you Ceci

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