Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, the Florida Cabinet voted to approve several projects that are priorities of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS). The projects, items #20-27 introduced by the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund, include the acquisition of additional public lands to expand Florida Forever projects managed by the Florida Forest Service, additional aquaculture leases and agreements for several oyster harvesting operations licensed by FDACS Division of Aquaculture, and new conservation easements for two Rural and Family Lands Protection Program projects. The Rural and Family Lands Protection Program is administered by the Florida Forest Service, which is a division of FDACS.
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, an independently-elected members of the Florida Cabinet, released the following statement on the approval of the projects:
“I’m pleased that the Cabinet has approved these important projects, which will expand Florida’s protected lands and help our aquaculture industry continue to grow. One of my top priorities throughout my administration has been the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, and it is great to see this critical conservation work continue with the support of our federal partners with these approved easements.”
