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Rebuilding the Environment When I took office, I was astonished at how our environment was in complete disarray. The damage from decades of inattentiveness and complacency was evident and in need of immediate address. Fortunately, a reenergized movement to protect and preserve our environment swept the halls of Tallahassee and environmental conservation has been a top priority ever since.
While our commitment to the Everglades is undeniable, so too has been our commitment to preserving the rest of the state. One of the more notable examples of this is our devotion to purchasing lands in danger of becoming polluted or of being developed so that the land, and the many species that inhabit it can continue to exist in its natural state. This commitment took shape in the form of Florida Forever, the most aggressive statewide land acquisition program in the nation. This $3 billion program utilizes $300 million in annual funding to further the land acquisition goals of its predecessor program, Preservation 2000, along with an expanded agenda of restoring damaged environmental systems, developing water resource supplies, increasing public access, managing and maintaining public lands, and utilizing conservation easements to maximize the amount of lands protected. To date, nearly 3 million acres of land have been preserved through initiatives such as Preservation 2000 and Florida Forever. And most recently, the Legislature appropriated $310 million for the purchase of Babcock Ranch, a 74,000-acre area of Florida that will create a natural land corridor from Lake Okeechobee to the Gulf of Mexico and will provide protection for some of Florida's most endangered species and enjoyment for future generations of outdoor enthusiasts. Additionally, Babcock Ranch will provide a vitally needed water-recharge area for Southwest Florida. Preserving for the Future Beach management and renourishment are our number one defense against tropical storms and hurricanes. Millions of Dollars are designated each year for beach management and renourishment, including more than $65 million during the 2006 Session.
In addition to these efforts, various other initiatives are underway in an effort to preserve and protect the lands and species that make Florida so unique. Besides Everglades restoration, protecting our valuable water supply has also been addressed through the Lake Okeechobee Protection Plan and the comprehensive “Water Protection and Sustainability Program,” which provide major funding commitments for water resources, infrastructure and pollution cleanup, and alternative water supply projects. Focusing on Conservation When it comes to the waters off our coast, the Florida Legislature has focused on public-private partnerships, such as those with the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution and the Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute, to promote the exploration and conservation of the world's oceans. Furthermore, my colleagues and I have worked to preserve the constitutional amendment, adopted in 1994, aimed at protecting the seas surrounding Florida from indiscriminate over-fishing with legislation designed to better enforce the ban on illegal fishing nets. And in a growing state of over 18 million residents, the Legislature has labored to consistently pass legislation to promote responsible growth management and to balance growth with environmental protection by promoting the clean up of contaminated lands and protecting rural and farm lands. Despite being the nation's fourth largest state, we are only one of three states east of the Mississippi River that meet the federal Environmental Protection Agency's air quality standards. I understand that Floridians expect good stewards of their land and natural resources. Because of this, I have spent the past 15 years listening to Floridians' concerns and answering with sound public policy initiatives. Historic funding, ambitious land preservation efforts, and creative initiatives have been the hallmark of our unwavering commitment effort to preserve “Old Florida” for generations to come. Report Card
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Perhaps the biggest task was undoing the years of neglect that had caused the Florida Everglades to shrink and become massively polluted. Famously named the “River of Grass,” the Everglades are a one-of-a-kind, 4 million acre area of Florida that holds the key to our future water supply. With this in mind, the Florida Legislature immediately set to work reversing the damage through the creation of the 
Tourism is the number one economic driver in the State of Florida, and our 1,100 miles of white sandy beaches play a large role in our tourism-based economy, which has thrived while other states have struggled in post-9/11 economic conditions. Nearly 86 million tourists came to Florida last year, many to enjoy the natural pristine beauty that our beaches offer. The economic impact of these beach visitors was over $40 billion. Couple beach tourism with the fact that 75 percent of Floridians live within 10 miles of the beach, with thousands more making Florida their home every year, it is obvious that the future of our beaches, and thus our state, is dependent upon efforts to restore and protect Florida's coastline. Those efforts are evident in the designation of millions of dollars every year for short and long-term beach management, including over $65 million in 2006. 