By Natalie Al-Shihabi
Living in Florida has given me countless opportunities to explore the wildlife and natural areas around me, from fireflies glowing brightly through the night to roseate spoonbills foraging in coastal wetlands, or even kayaking alongside Florida manatees.
With over 4,000 species of animals being found throughout Florida’s terrestrial and aquatic habitats, Florida has unique and important ecosystems that must be protected. Florida Forever and similar programs have helped conserve millions of acres of natural habitats, water resources and outdoor recreational areas across the state.
Clark Bay Conservation Area and Tiger Bay State Forest in Volusia County are just a few examples of natural areas that are now kept conserved because of the Florida Forever program. Yet proposed funding cuts can threaten future conservation progress, which can be detrimental for countless high-priority lands just awaiting purchase.
Without sufficient funding, land protection and water resource preservation is greatly limited, making development of critical ecosystems increasingly likely. Floridians and their legislators must come together once again to fight and advocate for increased funding for this essential program.
The Legislature needs to fully fund Florida Forever in the current budget, at or above the governor’s recommended amount of $115 million. Lawmakers, please support the full funding of this program and help preserve these habitats not just for the animals and plants, but for future generations to have the chance to experience Florida’s wildlife to its fullest potential.
Natalie Al-Shihabi is a senior at Stetson University studying aquatic and marine biology, serves as vice president of the Stetson Audubon chapter and is a member of the Audubon Conservation Leadership Initiative’s fall 2025 to spring 2026 cohort. This piece was written for Audubon Florida’s Write for Climate program. Banner photo: Tiger Bay State Forest includes the Pershing Highway Trail, a hike over a mile of brick road constructed in 1917 (formulanone, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons).
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