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Over the past several months, there has been a concerted effort to mislead and misinform the public about the role that the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has as it relates to land use and development decisions made across the State of Florida.
While protecting Florida’s invaluable natural resources is at the heart of the FWC’s mission, decisions concerning land development are made at the local level at County and City halls across the state and are, therefore, not under the agency’s purview. FWC and its 7 commissioners proudly serve as fish and wildlife resource trustees and work tirelessly to deliver results for generations of Floridians to come.
Under the leadership of Governor DeSantis, nearly 400,000 acres have been protected since 2019. Acquiring and preserving land is just the first step; the FWC takes pride in being a good steward of public land under its jurisdiction. From the Florida Keys to the Panhandle, we allocate resources carefully, prioritize projects that maximize conservation impact and public benefit, while ensuring that every dollar spent supports our mission to protect Florida’s natural resources effectively.
As record-breaking population growth has catapulted Florida to the 3rd most populous state in our nation, FWC’s mission is more important than ever. While detractors pummel, we’re preserving.
We have established more than 130,000 new acres as Wildlife Management Areas (WMA), now totaling more than 6 million acres across Florida. WMAs provide habitats for our precious wildlife, protect water sources that supply clean drinking water across the state, and create outstanding places to enjoy all the recreational options our public lands have to offer. Last fiscal year alone, more than 1.4 million visits occurred on FWC-managed areas.
Together, the FWC and our local, state, and federal partners are responsible for safeguarding nearly 10 million acres of conservation lands.
Beyond the ecological and recreational benefits our WMAs create, they also serve as an economic generator for their neighboring communities. WMAs contribute more than $144 million in economic benefits — much of that directly benefits rural communities that strongly depend on outdoor recreation and in-state tourism. More broadly, wildlife-related activities support approximately 425,000 jobs and contribute nearly $59 billion annually to Florida’s economy.
None of this work happens by accident. Every single day, from biologists to law enforcement officers, FWC employees are on the ground ensuring that natural resources are valued, that preservation is science-informed, and that as our state grows, our environment is protected. To them, I say thank you.
The FWC understands its call, and we’re answering. We are defined not by the noise, but by our actions. Not by our critics, but by our conduct. Not by the moment, but by what endures.
With the support of Governor DeSantis, the Florida Legislature, and the FWC Commission, the FWC understands Florida’s natural and unique landscape, its needs, pressures, challenges and stands ready to protect and preserve our habitats and wildlife.
