Florida’s renowned public lands are essential for protecting wildlife habitat, exploring our iconic landscapes, and enjoying various forms of recreation like fishing, camping, paddling, hiking, and hunting. As our state continues to grow, we remain committed to defending our public lands from increasing development and privatization pressures.
Defend Public Lands
Why Public Lands Matter
Florida’s public lands protect more than scenery, they protect our way of life. From state parks and wildlife management areas to state forests and connected corridors, these places belong to all Floridians. Defending public lands ensures they remain protected, accessible, and managed in the public interest for years into the future.
The Problem at Hand
Florida’s rapid growth and development continue to put pressure on public lands statewide. Proposals that threaten habitat, fragment landscapes, limit public access, or weaken conservation protections can emerge with little notice, opening the door to sale or development. Without informed and engaged advocates, decisions made behind the scenes can permanently alter the future of these irreplaceable places.
Public lands require constant vigilance. Once protections are rolled back or land is lost, it is often permanent.
Photo by Michael Warren | Getty Images
Conservation in Action
For decades, the Florida Wildlife Federation has played a leading role in defending Florida’s public lands for wildlife and recreationists alike. We work to safeguard conservation lands through advocacy, policy engagement, coalition-building, and public education.
FWF monitors emerging threats, works with partners and decision-makers, and speaks up when Florida’s public lands are at risk.
State Park Surplus Proposals (2013)
Threat: Widespread proposals to declare state park lands “surplus”.
What Happened: During the Rick Scott administration, multiple state parks across Florida were targeted for potential sale or transfer out of public ownership.
Impact: Conservation organizations, including Florida Wildlife Federation, mobilized public opposition, raised alarm statewide, and pushed decision-makers to reverse course.
Result: State parks remained public, setting a lasting precedent that surplus designations can be challenged—and stopped—through sustained public engagement.
What Happened: During the Rick Scott administration, multiple state parks across Florida were targeted for potential sale or transfer out of public ownership.
Impact: Conservation organizations, including Florida Wildlife Federation, mobilized public opposition, raised alarm statewide, and pushed decision-makers to reverse course.
Result: State parks remained public, setting a lasting precedent that surplus designations can be challenged—and stopped—through sustained public engagement.
Withlacoochee State Forest
(2024)
(2024)
Threat: An approved land swap that would have opened the door to a proposed golf course within the forest.
What Happened: Public records requests revealed that a land exchange involving the forest had already been approved by the Cabinet, with development as the likely outcome.
Impact: Advocacy, public scrutiny, and conservation pressure led the developer to withdraw from the deal.
Result: Instead of losing protected land, the state acquired additional acreage, expanding Withlacoochee State Forest and strengthening long-term habitat protection.
What Happened: Public records requests revealed that a land exchange involving the forest had already been approved by the Cabinet, with development as the likely outcome.
Impact: Advocacy, public scrutiny, and conservation pressure led the developer to withdraw from the deal.
Result: Instead of losing protected land, the state acquired additional acreage, expanding Withlacoochee State Forest and strengthening long-term habitat protection.
Guana River Wildlife Management Area
(May 2025)
(May 2025)
Threat: A land exchange request submitted outside the intent of state conservation law.
What Happened: An unknown applicant filed a request with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to exchange land affecting Guana conservation lands. Grassroots opposition mobilized almost immediately, with local outreach, public pressure, and protests escalating within days.
Impact: The applicant withdrew the request before it could even reach the Acquisition and Restoration Council (ARC).
Result: The 600 acres within the Guana River WMA, a critical habitat, remained protected from development.
What Happened: An unknown applicant filed a request with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to exchange land affecting Guana conservation lands. Grassroots opposition mobilized almost immediately, with local outreach, public pressure, and protests escalating within days.
Impact: The applicant withdrew the request before it could even reach the Acquisition and Restoration Council (ARC).
Result: The 600 acres within the Guana River WMA, a critical habitat, remained protected from development.
Ellaville Tract
(June - July 2025)
(June - July 2025)
Threat: A proposed land swap involving water management district lands near the confluence of major Florida rivers.
What Happened: Public attention, media coverage, and conservation advocacy brought increased scrutiny to the proposed exchange.
Impact: Facing growing opposition, the applicant withdrew the proposal before it advanced.
Result: Public ownership was maintained, and sensitive riverfront lands remained protected for wildlife, water quality, and public benefit.
What Happened: Public attention, media coverage, and conservation advocacy brought increased scrutiny to the proposed exchange.
Impact: Facing growing opposition, the applicant withdrew the proposal before it advanced.
Result: Public ownership was maintained, and sensitive riverfront lands remained protected for wildlife, water quality, and public benefit.
Chassahowitzka River Campground
(August 2025)
(August 2025)
Threat: Potential surplus designation and closure of a popular public campground, risking loss of river access.
What Happened: A social media post from the Southwest Florida Water Management District announced a possible closure and future surplus evaluation. Community members quickly organized to oppose the loss of access.
Impact: Grassroots advocacy prompted legislative mediation and negotiations between local and state leaders.
Result: The campground remained open, and public access to the Chassahowitzka River was preserved, before any surplus designation could move forward.
What Happened: A social media post from the Southwest Florida Water Management District announced a possible closure and future surplus evaluation. Community members quickly organized to oppose the loss of access.
Impact: Grassroots advocacy prompted legislative mediation and negotiations between local and state leaders.
Result: The campground remained open, and public access to the Chassahowitzka River was preserved, before any surplus designation could move forward.
How do Land Swaps Happen?
Our efforts to defend public lands include monitoring when ecologically important lands are labeled as surplus, which often is the first action before a land swap.
Surplus lands are public lands labeled as “no longer needed for a conservation purpose.” We must defend the loss of land considered surplus if it still provides critical wildlife habitat, protects water resources, offers recreational access, or serves as important links between conserved areas. The surplus designation opens the door to privatization, sale, or development. Once sold or transferred, these lands are rarely recovered.
Not all land exchanges are harmful. When proposed transparently and evaluated using sound science, land exchanges can strengthen conservation outcomes. The difference between a bad deal and a conservation win comes down to oversight, science, and strong public accountability.
Defending public lands works and Floridians have proven it time and again. Through public engagement, coalition advocacy, and sustained pressure on decision-makers, harmful land swaps have been stopped, surplus designations reversed, and conservation protections strengthened.
How to Help
Florida’s public lands shape our communities, economy, and way of life. Protecting them is a responsibility we share for today and every generation that follows.
Become a Conservation Land Defender to receive timely alerts when threats emerge and targeted opportunities to take quick, meaningful action. You’ll join a growing statewide network of dedicated Floridians who believe these places should remain protected, accessible, and managed in the public interest.
Are you ready to act when it matters most? Pledge to stand up for Florida’s public lands and the wildlife and waters that depend on them by taking action when it matters most.
Become a Conservation Land Defender
