Florida Forever

Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet next week could approve spending more than $141 million to conserve 42,000 acres of land from the Panhandle to the Devil's Garden area southwest of Lake Okeechobee.

Florida Forever would receive $100 million, another $100 million is earmarked for the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, and $800 million would fund projects connecting the Ocala and Osceola National Forests.

Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet on Tuesday voted to spend around $100 million to help protect nearly 40,000 acres within the Florida Wildlife Corridor.

The House and Senate began putting together budget proposals to address such issues as Everglades restoration and land acquisition.

The legislature would need to approve DeSantis' $3.5 billion proposal, which would be spread over four years.

Florida lawmakers included $27 million for manatees in the state budget this session. Environmentalists say more is needed.

State lawmakers have taken another step toward preserving land that could eventually become a corridor for wildlife to migrate within Florida. It's one of the first steps in implementing the Florida Wildlife Corridor Act.

DeSantis chose the Disney Wilderness Preserve in Osceola County for the ceremonial signing of the Florida Wildlife Corridor Act. It is considered a national model in efforts to preserve migration paths for animals.

Lawmakers also doubled to $100 million funding for Florida Forever, which preserves environmentally sensitive lands. They agreed to put $300 million from federal stimulus funding toward land conservation.

It's aimed at protecting the state's natural and agricultural lands.

Because of a legally required 72-hour “cooling off” period, the budget is required to be finalized and printed Tuesday for the annual legislative session to end on time Friday.