By Lynn Hatter
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wfsu/local-wfsu-955373.mp3
Tallahassee, FL – The state's land-buying conservation program is on the chopping block this year, and has been eliminated all together in Governor Rick Scott's budget proposal. But as Lynn Hatter reports, state Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam says there's more than one way to protect Florida's land.
Putnam says the state should start looking at creating more conservation easements, and leaving undeveloped land in the hands of private owners, instead of the state. Much of the money that went to Florida Forever has dried up from the lack of home sales and Putnam says its time do something different.
"A new model of protection, rather than the outright purchase of the land, has been the purchase of development rights and conservation easements, which leaves these sensitive lands on the tax roles, in agricultural production using good stewardship practices, but forever removes any threat that these lands will ever be developed."
Putnam says that allows the state to stretch its dollars further and protect more acres with less impact to local government tax bases.