At the Ballot Box, Floridians Choose Wild Florida

One of the most direct ways communities can protect the places they love is through the ballot box. When Florida counties put land conservation measures to a vote, residents get to decide directly whether to fund the protection of local water sources, wildlife habitat, and outdoor recreation — and in 2024, four counties did exactly that.

Four Counties, One Clear Message

In November 2024, voters in Clay, Lake, Osceola, and Martin counties all passed local land protection measures, securing nearly $350 million over the next 20 years. The margins were striking — Lake County passed with 80% of the vote, the highest margin of any ballot measure in the county’s history. Osceola passed with 84%. Clay with 73%. Martin with 64%.

What Each County Approved

• Clay County: $45 million in bonds to protect drinking water, conserve wildlife habitat, support working forests and farms, and expand outdoor recreation.
• Lake County: $50 million bond for land acquisition protecting water resources, wildlife corridors, and recreational areas.
• Osceola County: $70 million bond to preserve natural areas for water quality, wildlife habitat, and outdoor recreation.
• Martin County: A sales tax generating an estimated $183 million over ten years for waterway restoration, drinking water protection, wildlife habitat, and ecotourism.

Local Dollars Go Further

Each measure also positions these counties to receive matching grants at the state and federal levels, stretching every local dollar further and accelerating land protection across the region.

Your Vote, Your Landscape

When communities vote to protect land, the impact goes beyond their county lines. Florida’s outdoor recreation industry supports 485,000 jobs and generates $3.5 billion in state and local tax revenue each year. Florida state parks and trails alone contribute $3.6 billion annually to local economies. Every conservation vote helps protect the lands that keep those numbers growing — and sets an example for counties across the state.

Want to add your voice to the movement? Thousands of Floridians have already pledged to protect wild Florida. Join them. Join the Movement