WAKULLA COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) - Florida's beaches, forests and wildlife are a little safer.
After years of legal maneuvering, the Florida Wildlife Federation won a conservation battle against the state, securing funding for the Florida Forever Program.
The Florida Wildlife Federation advocates strategic conservation lands acquisition. The state buys lands through The Florida Forever trust fund.
A legal battle started in 2015 after funding for the program was being used elsewhere. The lawsuit filed by FWF and allies is to establish that the amendments funds are intended for the state to acquire conservation lands only.
Judge Charles Dodson agreed, ruling all funds must go toward conservation. Fuller says, the FWF team couldn't have done it without the help of David Guest, the Earth Justice Team, St John's River Keeper, Sierra Club and Environmental Confederation of South West Florida.
"The state will be able to better protect properties like Wakulla Springs State Parks by acquiring lands that the sinkholes feed into," said Manley Fuller, Florida Wildlife Federation President. "The state will now have the tools to do that."
Fuller says, by making sure funds are being properly used, the program can continue protecting what draws people to Florida: natural springs, state parks and the coast.
