Land Conservation Committee

Committee Description:

The FLERA Land Conservation Committee (LCC) was borne from a need for local government land conservation programs to be better able to communicate not only amongst themselves, but to project a unified voice among policy-makers. Land conservation and land management remains a strong value for Floridians.  The function of the Land Conservation Committee is to inform FLERA members on land conservation and management  issues so that they can advocate on our behalf to the FLERA Legislature. The LCC consists of a core group of local subject matter experts and practitioners, supported by the complete roster of local land conservation programs around the state. The current roster of committee members who participate in a quarterly telephone conference calls is below and some of them are not necessarily FLERA members. The purpose of the calls is to provide a sounding board for issues that the various programs may face and encourage local programs to become members of the FLERA organization by expounding on the benefits of being a member.

 Top Legislative Priorities for 2026-2027: 

  1. Fully fund Environmentally Sensitive Land Acquisition in the State of Florida.

  2. Oppose any effort to surplus the State of Florida inventory of preservation lands.

  3. Advocate for the reproritzation of Climate Resiliency funding to be earmarked for the conservation and managemnt of specific properties as they provide numerous benefits such as 1) protection of threatened and endangered species, 2) reduce need for stormwater facilities, 3) attenuate flooding, 4) provide aquifer recharge, 5) sequestration of carbon, 6) reduces impacts from storm surges, 7) water quality improvements.

  4. Advocate for annual appropriations equal to a minimum of the lesser of 5% of deposits or $50 million in Land Acquisition Trust Fun for local governments for conservation and restoration purposes.

  5. Advocate for the removal of Florida Forever program requirement that 100% of the title is in state ownership when County’s and or municipalities provide funding for the acquisition of environmentally sensitive lands.

  6. Advocate for the funding of Florida Communities Trust for thManagement assistance funding program.

  7. Monitor for any legislation filed that would help / hinder land management activities for both state and local governments.

  8. Oppose any legislation filed that ywould hinder land management activities for both state and local governments.

  9. Advocate against weakening of any federal and state statute that protect listed species and their habitat.

  10. Advocate for enhanced State collaboration with local governments to identify and apply Critcally Important Wetlands criteria established by the Water Management Districts pursuant to Section 373.036, Florida Statutes (Florida Water Plan; district water management plans).

Committee Members:

Janet Gil, Chair (Miami- Dade County)
Beth Jackson (Orange County)
Danielle Dangleman (Volusia County)
Tammy Odierna (Pasco County)
Andi Christman (Alachua County)
Debra Woithe (Manatee County)