Defenders hails passage of Water and Land Conservation Amendment in Florida

Washington, D.C. (November 5, 2014) – Florida voters have passed the Water and Land Conservation Amendment to the state Constitution, a measure that designates billions of dollars over the next 20 years for natural resources, wildlife and habitat conservation.

The money will be used to acquire, manage and restore the state’s priority natural resources and will return funding to Florida Forever, a conservation land purchasing program that has been woefully underfunded since the 2008 recession. Defenders of Wildlife and its allies worked tirelessly  to restore funding to this critical program, which has helped protect key habitat for many Florida species and establish a state wildlife habitat network. Below is a statement from Defenders of Wildlife Florida Program Director Laurie Macdonald:

“This is a fantastic victory for Florida’s wildlife and everyone who cares about protecting our state’s beautiful natural lands. Endangered and rare species like sea turtles and beach mice, the Florida manatee, Florida panther, wood stork and gopher tortoise will have a far better chance at successful recovery. Protecting habitat, from our iconic Everglades to the Panhandle, is the key to preserving wildlife for future generations. This success shows us the significance that people of all ages, political affiliations and cultural backgrounds place on the protection of our lands, water and wildlife.”

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Defenders of Wildlife is dedicated to the protection of all native animals and plants in their natural communities. With more than 1.1 million members and activists, Defenders of Wildlife is a leading advocate for innovative solutions to safeguard our wildlife heritage for generations to come. For more information, visit www.defenders.org and follow us on Twitter @DefendersNews.