HARDEE COUNTY, Fla. — Florida lawmakers did not approve new funding for Florida Forever, the state’s flagship conservation and recreational lands acquisition program, raising concerns among conservation advocates as development pressure continues to grow across the state.

The decision comes as lawmakers approved $425 million for the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, which allows landowners to place permanent conservation easements on working agricultural lands while continuing to farm. State officials estimate that investment could help protect nearly $2 billion worth of agricultural land.

In Hardee County, farm owner Ned Hancock is working to ensure his family’s more than 100-acre property remains untouched by development. His family has owned the property since the 1800s, and the land is protected through the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program.

“Once land use changes like that, you don’t ever see it go from rooftop to farmland,” Hancock said.

Hancock said keeping the land in agriculture helps preserve Florida’s agricultural heritage and natural resources while supporting the local economy.

“By maintaining it in production agriculture, we actually continue being an economic driver in our part of Florida,” Hancock said.

Florida Forever, a separate program, helps protect environmentally sensitive lands, wildlife habitat, parks and recreational areas across the state.

Hancock said both programs help farmers, but he said lawmakers may be looking for ways to improve how some protected lands are managed.

“I would like to see if you’re going to put something in Florida Forever, how is it managed, who’s in charge of that management,” Hancock said.

For conservation advocates, the lack of new funding for Florida Forever raises concerns about the state’s ability to keep pace with growth.

“There are a lot of landowners on that list that are wanting to conserve their land today, while pressure to develop is increasing,” said Traci Deen, president and CEO of Conservation Florida.

Deen said the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program and Florida Forever are complementary, and both need significant funding.

“Those programs are so complementary of one another, and both need to be funded at significant levels for the state to keep up with the pace of growth, with the pace of development,” Deen said.

Existing Florida Forever funds will still be available for some projects, but Deen said demand continues to outpace available resources.

Hancock said state leaders could temporarily focus on protecting working agricultural lands through the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program and revisit Florida Forever funding later.

“We’ve got such a good list on the Rural Family Land Program. Maybe for a year or two, let’s really aggressively fund that and then let’s come back to the Florida Forever program,” Hancock said.

Still, Hancock said preserving large tracts of farmland remains critical as development continues across Florida.

“I’m afraid that if we don’t act and preserve large viable paths for agriculture, that it may be gone,” Hancock said.

Conservation leaders say the challenge will be balancing development with protecting the lands that define Florida’s environment, economy, and quality of life.