Dean Saunders: Falling behind on green infrastructure — Florida land values soar as conservation spending lags

Image via Florida Conservation Group.

Florida’s land values are skyrocketing – but our investment in conservation isn’t keeping pace. The consequences are mounting: without bold, immediate action, we risk losing the natural landscapes, working agricultural lands, and ecological systems that form the backbone of Florida’s green infrastructure. To preserve what makes Florida unique, we must align conservation funding with today’s market realities – before these lands are lost to development forever.

As Florida’s population approaches 25 million by 2030, the pressure on our land intensifies. In the 1990s, our state invested roughly $300 million annually in land conservation. That commitment, combined with strategic programs like Preservation 2000 and Florida Forever, allowed us to preserve millions of acres of environmentally sensitive and agriculturally vital land. But land prices today are nothing like they were then.

USDA data tells the story clearly. In 1997, Florida pastureland was valued at about $1,430 per acre. In 2024, that same land costs more than $7,000 per acre. Cropland has seen a similar trend, rising from around $3,000 per acre in the late ‘90s to over $10,000 today. In fact, pasture lands increased by fivefold and cropland by threefold.

Despite that, today’s conservation funding often mirrors the levels of the 1990s. The Florida Legislature is proposing $400 million for the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program (RFLPP) this year, a step in the right direction, but far from enough. To maintain the same purchasing power we had 30 years ago, we must invest $1 billion to $1.5 billion annually. That’s the only way to conserve land at the scale and speed needed before it is forever lost to development.

Despite rising demand and soaring land values, today’s conservation funding still mirrors what was allocated in the 1990s. While the Legislature’s efforts are a step in the right direction, relying on the same dollar amount that made a difference three decades ago simply isn’t enough today.

Consider this: land valued at $300 million in 1997 would now cost nearly $1.5 billion. The math is clear– we’re falling behind, and fast.

To protect land at the scale and speed required, Florida must substantially increase its investment before these critical areas are lost to development for good.

This isn’t just about numbers. It’s about values, both economic and environmental. Conservation isn’t a luxury. It’s the backbone of our water supply, wildlife habitat, agricultural productivity, and recreational access. Our green infrastructure supports tourism, mitigates climate risks, and preserves Florida’s unique natural identity. And the public knows this. Florida voters have consistently supported ballot initiatives for conservation funding. But public sentiment must be matched with public investment.

After a long period of reduced investment – including a low point of just $2.4 million allocated in 2013 – we’ve recently seen renewed funding efforts under Governor DeSantis, with $1.07 billion allocated in 2023. That’s commendable progress. But we’re still not on par with what we were accomplishing in the ‘90s, when land was cheaper and opportunities more plentiful.

As someone who has worked at the intersection of real estate, agriculture, and conservation for four decades, I’ve seen the consequences of delay. I began my career as an Agricultural Liaison and Director of External Affairs to U.S. Senator and then-Gov. Lawton Chiles. As a member of the Florida House of Representatives in the 1990s, I authored the legislation that created the Green Swamp Land Authority, the first state program to purchase development rights from landowners through conservation easements. This concept, once groundbreaking, is now standard practice, helping preserve land without removing it from private ownership.

At Saunders Real Estate, my team and I track Florida land values closely through our annual “Lay of the Land Market Report.” It’s the only report in the state providing verified sales data for different land types and it confirms what USDA and landowners have been saying for years: the price of land is only going one direction. Up.

Applications to Florida’s two major conservation programs – Florida Forever and the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program (RFLPP) – now exceed $21 billion. This gap makes it clear: allocating $300 million here and there is simply not enough to meet the need or make meaningful progress.

That’s why I’m urging the Florida Legislature to take decisive action: commit to a long-term investment of at least $1 billion per year for the next decade, split evenly between the Division of State Lands and RFLPP. This isn’t about spending more than we did in the ‘90s – it’s about staying equal to what we were doing, adjusted for today’s land values.

If we fail to act now, we risk losing irreplaceable natural areas, vital agricultural lands, and the essence of what makes Florida, Florida. But with sustained investment, we can preserve our green heritage, protect our economy, and leave a lasting legacy for future generations.

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Dean Saunders, ALC, CCIM, is the founder and managing director of Saunders Real Estate.