As Florida’s 2026 legislative session continues, decisions made in Tallahassee over the coming weeks will shape the future of our rural landscapes, food security, and the very character of the Sunshine State.
At the heart of this conversation is the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program (RFLPP), a proven, effective, and urgently needed initiative that deserves not just continued — but expanded — support.
Since its inception in 2001, the program has preserved over 225,000 acres of working agricultural land. This is not just land on a map. These are family farms and ranches, open pastures and natural spaces that define Florida’s heritage and support our economy. Every acre protected through this program is an acre that helps keep Florida wild, providing vital habitat for countless imperiled species, maintaining biodiversity and safeguarding natural systems.
Under the leadership of Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson, the program has protected more than 158,000 acres and secured over $700 million in state funding. His initiative has inspired many landowners statewide to consider conservation, positioning Florida as a national leader in agricultural land protection.
These achievements are impressive, but only scratch the surface of the overwhelming demand from Florida landowners, with 223 proposals submitted in the most recent application cycle. The current ranked acquisition list includes a whopping 428 projects, and the total demand from willing landowners could exceed $2 billion in necessary funding. These are not theoretical numbers; they represent a real, immediate opportunity to protect the lands that feed and sustain our rural communities.
The RFLPP keeps our farmers farming and our ranchers ranching. By providing financial incentives through conservation easements, the program allows families to continue working their land without the pressure to sell. This means more food and fiber grown right here in Florida, supporting local economies and making our food supply safer and more resilient.
Not only do our working Floridians rely on these lands, so do our beloved endangered Florida panthers. Agricultural land plays an important role in protecting our statewide wildlife corridor. As our population rapidly grows, conserving these working lands provides a critical buffer, ensuring that development does not come at the expense of our environment or our way of life.
Florida is losing farmland at an alarming rate and once it’s gone, it’s gone. The RFLPP is our best defense against this loss, but only if we match the program’s ambition with the funding it deserves. With over $2 billion in demand, we must do more. Timing is of the essence. The pace of development is unrelenting, and the window to protect these lands is closing fast.
This legislative session, I urge lawmakers and citizens alike to support and increase funding for the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program and Florida Forever. Both safeguard Florida’s resources, support our agricultural heritage, and guarantee future generations will enjoy the spaces that make our state so special.
Let’s keep Florida growing. For nature, for ourselves, for our children, and for generations of Floridians to come.
Traci Deen is CEO of Conservation Florida, a nonprofit land conservancy dedicated to conserving the Sunshine State’s water, wildlife, and wild places — the places that make Florida home.