Each year, thousands of new residents are drawn to our region—for good reason. Often referred to as paradise, it offers a quality of life that’s hard to beat. But as the population grows, so does the pressure on our land. Open spaces once used for agriculture, conservation and wildlife are increasingly being replaced by residential and commercial development. The responsibility for protecting our natural environment falls to all of us, not solely to elected officials. That’s why these local organizations and community leaders are working together to protect our land and water, preserving what makes it a special place for both people and nature. 

Big Waters Land Trust

Brooke Langston understands the beauty in this land. A native of Fort Myers, she’s traveled extensively, but something, particularly the awe-inspiring natural beauty of the Gulf Coast, kept pulling her back home. As Director of Land Protection at Big Waters Land Trust, Langston works with landowners across a nine-county region from southern Tampa Bay to the northern Everglades, securing land through purchases or conservation easements that prevent future development. Efforts are guided by a conservation plan prioritizing habitat health and water quality. Big Waters Land Trust is a nonprofit dedicated to conserving natural habitats, farmland, waterways and open spaces to protect clean water, wildlife and public access to nature for future generations. Founded more than 20 years ago as the Sarasota Conservation Foundation and later known as the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast, the organization rebranded in 2024 to reflect its broader service area across Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, Lee and Collier counties. To date, it has permanently conserved more than 20,000 acres. Recent successes include helping the City of Cape Coral conserve 12 urban lots that provide habitat for burrowing owls and gopher tortoises, protecting 60 acres of historic ranch land in Collier County through a donated conservation easement and partnering with Manatee County to preserve 34 acres near Crane Park. The organization is also “rewilding” four vacant parcels at the Celery Fields with Sarasota Audubon Society and the county. “The plantings just happened a few months ago and we’re already seeing a great influx of birds there—it’s a fantastic birding spot,” Langston says. She adds that the group is fundraising with the City of Sarasota to convert portions of the Bobby Jones golf course into a nature park. Rapid growth in Florida is making conservation more challenging as land values rise and developers offer premium prices. “Ranchers, particularly ranchers out east who have these big tracks of land, say the developers literally knock on their doors with a checkbook and say, ‘How much do you want?’ and some of these ranches have been in the family for up to six generations. They want to keep ranching and we need them to keep ranching, because we don’t want all of our food to come from elsewhere when we can grow some of our own food here,” Langston explains.

Still, she emphasizes the organization is not anti-development. “We know that Florida’s a popular place, and people are going to continue to move here, but we want the right houses in the right places. We want the right use for the right pieces of land. We’d like to see more infill in areas that are already developed and less destruction on big, vast tracks of land. But a little silver lining is that land owners are finally realizing that they need to act soon to protect their land.” A key partner is the Sarasota County Environmentally Sensitive Lands Protection Program (ESLPP), which has preserved nearly 40,000 acres. Big Waters is now working to support renewal of the program. “In November 2026, Sarasota County voters are going to be asked to vote again to renew that ballot initiative to tax ourselves to continue to buy sensitive lands in our area to keep our beaches, forests and birds clean and healthy,” Langston says. “It’s an initiative that we are spending lots of time and effort on getting that referendum worded correctly on the ballot and then successfully passed to continue to buy land here in Sarasota.” Big Waters also collaborates with groups including Sarasota Baywatch, Sarasota Bay Estuary Program and Sarasota Audubon Society, while building partnerships with small barrier island nonprofits to protect coastal parcels that help buffer storms. Residents can support the work by volunteering in the office, assisting with fieldwork such as pulling weeds and planting native species, or helping at events like the upcoming “Wild About Nature” festival in March. 

Manatee County Moves to Preserve Rural Lands Through Conservation Partnerships

Manatee County’s population is increasing rapidly, and with that comes development pressure on rural lands. For this reason, the county and the State of Florida are teaming up with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Rural and Family Lands Protection Program to jointly purchase perpetual rural lands protection easements. The initial agreements, unanimously approved by the Manatee BOCC, will permanently protect 1,483 acres of agricultural land from development, including 438 acres at Mossy Island Ranch and 1,045 acres at Thundercloud Ranch—both of which are considered vital to Florida Wildlife. Amidst the increasing development pressure on rural lands, protecting Mossy Island Ranch and Thundercloud Ranch represents a meaningful milestone, allowing agricultural landowners to conserve working landscapes at a regional scale. These lands support agriculture, wildlife and water resources, ensuring growth does not erase the County’s rural roots. The agreements also reflect voter intent, as conservation funding was approved by a 71% majority vote. The preserved properties represent essential “Old Florida” landscapes—wide-open ranchlands, native uplands, wetlands and natural areas that remain free from development. These are working lands that produce locally sourced food while sustaining natural systems, a combination that is increasingly rare as Florida continues to develop. Permanently preserving these properties protects not only environmentally sensitive land, but also a way of life and sense of place. “It’s absolutely a piece of Florida that few people get to see anymore,” said District 1 Commissioner Carol Ann Felts. “I know when our voters voted to increase their own taxes, this is what they envisioned.” The easements maintain the economic viability of agricultural operations while safeguarding ecological value, including wildlife corridors that connect to nearby preserved lands. Large, intact ranches such as these are critical to regional wildlife connectivity, particularly within the Florida Wildlife Corridor, where private ranchlands play a significant role. By adding 1,482 acres to the conservation network, the County advances its goal of increasing conserved lands while protecting water quality and ecosystem function. Manatee County Director of Natural Resources Charlie Hunsicker noted that the partnership aligns with the County’s strategic plan. “In review of the Board’s strategic planning and policies, you asked for maintaining agricultural diversity in Manatee County and promoting agritourism businesses. I’m offering that easements, as many Commissioners have expressed prior, are exactly the tool we can utilize to ensure perpetual agricultural economy in Manatee County,” he said. The County’s contribution is capped at $500,000 for Mossy Island Ranch and $1.5 million for Thundercloud Ranch. FDACS will execute and record the easements and oversee their implementation. Together, these agreements demonstrate that growth and conservation can coexist, preserving Manatee County’s rural character, agricultural legacy and natural resources for generations to come. 

Sarasota County’s Environmentally Sensitive Lands Protection Program

The protected lands of Sarasota County are protected for a reason. These areas provide habitats for species such as gopher tortoises, Florida scrub-jays, eastern indigo snakes, crested caracara and West Indian manatees. These sites also safeguard rare native communities, support wildlife corridors, protect watersheds and water quality and recharge the aquifer, which serves as a critical, natural reservoir. Sarasota County’s Environmentally Sensitive Lands Protection Program (ESLPP) is a voter-approved and taxpayer-funded program intended to acquire and protect native habitat, listed species and water resources. The ESLPP and its sister program, the Neighborhood Parkland Acquisition Program, operate together under the Land Acquisition and Management Program (LAMP), allowing land to be preserved for conservation or developed for public recreation. In October 2025, LAMP completed its first joint acquisition using both funding sources to conserve land along the Wild and Scenic Myakka River while adding nature-based recreation opportunities such as camping, fishing and kayaking.To date, ESLPP has protected 101 properties totaling nearly 42,000 acres through purchases and conservation easements. The 100th acquisition—the former Camp Venice RV Resort, now Snook Haven Campground—adds 20 acres along the Myakka River in Venice and is planned to reopen as an upgraded riverfront campground. The Neighborhood Parkland Acquisition Program has acquired 31 properties totaling 143 acres, including beach and water access parks and trailheads. Looking ahead, the planned Hawkins Ranch Conservation Easement—partnering with state and regional agencies—will protect more than 3,000 acres of native habitat and ranchland between the I-75 corridor and Myakka River State Park, with continued emphasis on the Myakka River corridor and watershed. Sarasota County has also partnered with nonprofit land trusts and state agencies to leverage funding, jointly protecting thousands of acres through purchases, easements and grants. “The Land Acquisition and Management Program is a great Sarasota County success story. It’s truly driven by community support and a shared commitment to preserving the natural spaces that define our quality of life. LAMP represents decades of hard work and commitment from community members,” explains Sarasota Public Information Officer Sara Nealeigh. “Because of that support, Sarasota County is able to protect environmentally sensitive lands and create parks and access points that residents and visitors will enjoy for generations. It will leave an indelible legacy of protected lands for the benefit of the environment and our residents.” Those interested in helping or learning more can do so through free programs and volunteer opportunities offered by the county and UF/IFAS Extension, serve on advisory boards that review land nominations or submit nominations directly to the county.