Florida Governor Ron DeSantis keeps proving states can do the job better than federal bureaucrats ever could.
While the federal government cuts conservation funding and leaves farmers and ranchers hanging, DeSantis just did what leaders are supposed to do.
And Ron DeSantis just protected 21,500 acres of Florida land after the Biden administration abandoned conservation programs coast to coast.
DeSantis puts $27.4 million where his mouth is
DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet approved protection for 21,500 acres of conservation and agricultural land across the state Tuesday, representing a $27.4 million investment.¹
The acquisitions strengthen Florida's conservation network while preserving family-owned farms and ranches that have operated for generations.
Two conservation easements totaling nearly 11,000 acres in Collier and Hendry counties enhance connectivity between the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge and Big Cypress National Preserve.²
These properties provide critical habitat for the endangered Florida panther while supporting ongoing agricultural operations.
In Northwest Florida, a 7,437-acre easement in Escambia County serves as a buffer for military installations while protecting water quality in the Perdido and Escambia river watersheds.³
The Cabinet also approved protection for two family-owned agricultural operations.
The Tilton Family Farm in Putnam County has been in operation since 1973, producing honey and fresh produce for local communities while running a cattle operation.⁴
The Siboney Ranch in Okeechobee County has been family-owned since 2003, maintaining productive agricultural land in a rapidly changing region.⁵
"From day one, my administration has recognized the importance of preserving Florida's environment for future generations," DeSantis said in a statement.⁶
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson praised the move for keeping land in the hands of families who work it.
"Every acre protected through these programs keeps our state a little more rural — and a lot more Florida — while supporting farmers, ranchers, and conservation efforts statewide," Simpson stated.⁷
https://twitter.com/WiltonSimpson/status/1999834091701555491?s=20
While Trump cuts federal programs, DeSantis delivers for Florida
The timing exposes a stark reality about who actually gets conservation done.
Since 2019, the Florida Legislature has committed more than $1.25 billion to the Florida Forever Program under DeSantis's leadership.⁸
That consistent funding enabled the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to acquire over 220,000 acres for conservation, with 90% within the Florida Wildlife Corridor.⁹
DeSantis proposed $115 million for Florida Forever in his Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget, along with $200 million for the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program.¹⁰
Compare that to what's happening at the federal level under Trump.
The Trump administration cancelled Biden-era climate programs, froze Inflation Reduction Act conservation funding, and halted reimbursements for conservation projects already underway.¹¹
USDA cancelled the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities in April 2025, cutting off funding streams that farmers were counting on.¹²
In Alachua County, Florida, the Alachua Conservation Trust had $25 million from the National Resources Conservation Service slashed to just $2 million — funds intended to support Florida farmers and protect agricultural land.¹³
One Florida soil conservation coordinator described the federal cuts as forcing conservation groups to compete for "scraps of dollars" after reliable federal partnerships evaporated.¹⁴
DeSantis recognized early that states can't count on Washington bureaucrats to protect their natural resources.
Florida Forever became the state's blueprint for conserving natural lands and securing conservation easements without begging federal agencies for permission.
The program protects working lands while strengthening rural economies — exactly what Trump promised to do but failed to deliver through bloated federal programs.
States prove they don't need Washington's help
This is how federalism is supposed to work.
DeSantis took state revenue and invested it directly in conservation priorities that matter to Floridians — protecting the panther habitat, securing water resources, and preserving family farms.
No federal bureaucrats demanding compliance with diversity mandates or climate equity requirements.
No Washington officials dictating which lands deserve protection based on national political agendas.
Just straightforward state action that protects natural resources while respecting property rights and agricultural heritage.
The 21,500 acres approved Tuesday connect to larger conservation corridors, support military readiness at installations like Eglin Air Force Base and Avon Park Air Force Range, and maintain productive agricultural operations.¹⁵
These aren't symbolic gestures or photo-op tree plantings.
Florida acquired real easements on working ranches and forests that will remain in agricultural production while protected from residential or commercial development.
The state's approach proves conservation and economic productivity aren't mutually exclusive when the government stays focused on results instead of ideology.
DeSantis has now overseen protection of more conservation land in Florida than any recent administration while the federal government lurches from one failed program to another.
He protected 21,500 acres this week while Washington, DC bureaucrats argued about who to blame for the conservation funding chaos.
That's the difference between a governor who delivers and a federal government that disappoints regardless of which party controls it.
¹ Florida Office of the Governor, "Governor Ron DeSantis and Florida Cabinet Approve Strategic Conservation and Agricultural Land Acquisitions," Press Release, December 17, 2025.
² – ⁷ Ibid.
⁸ Florida Department of Environmental Protection, "Governor Ron DeSantis and Cabinet Approve Largest Investment in Decades for Conservation Lands," Press Release, 2024.
⁹ Ibid.
¹⁰ Florida Office of the Governor, "Governor Ron DeSantis and Florida Cabinet Approve Strategic Conservation and Agricultural Land Acquisitions," Press Release, December 17, 2025.
¹¹ Sierra Club, "Farmers Feeling the Pain After Conservation Funding Frozen," 2025.
¹² USDA, "USDA Cancels Biden Era Climate Slush Fund," Press Release, April 14, 2025.
¹³ The Independent Florida Alligator, "Alachua County environmental groups discuss federal funding cuts," November 2025.
¹⁴ Grand Forks Herald, "Federal funding cuts leave conservation work in a state of limbo," September 13, 2025.
¹⁵ Florida Office of the Governor, "Governor Ron DeSantis and Florida Cabinet Approve Strategic Conservation and Agricultural Land Acquisitions," Press Release, December 17, 2025.
