Greenways for Florida

As Florida celebrates its 150th year of statehood in 1995, one of its greatest challenges is to build a sustainable future, a future in which the needs of the present generation are met in ways that expand rather than limit the resources available to future generations. As Lt. Governor Buddy MacKay puts it, "just as we carefully plan the infrastructure our communities need to support the people who live there-the roads, water and ele tricity - so Must we begin to plan and manage Florida's green infrastructure." Simply Put, this "green infrastructure" is the system of native landscapes and ecosystems that supports native plant and animal species, sustains clean air, water, fisheries and other natural resources, and maintains the scenic natural beauty that draws people to visit and settle in Florida. A healthy and diverse green infrastructure is the underlying basis of our state's sustainable future. By conserving green infrastructure connections and by connecting people and the land in a way that reestablishes the close connections between environment, economy and society, the statewide greenways system can help build Florida's sustainable future. This greenways system has the potential not only to conserve Florida's green infrastructure but also to provide economic benefits and to improve the quality of life for Florida's citizens. Within the landscape, greenways serve at least three major functions: they protect and/or enhance remaining natural, cultural and historical resources; they provide linear open space for compatible human use; and they maintain connectivity-between conservation lands, communities, parks and other recreational facilities, and cultural and historic sites. Connectivity is a critical landscape characteristic important to the health, well-being, and aesthetic values of human communities and vital to the maintenance of functional native ecosystems.   The Florida Greenways Commission The Florida Greenways Commission was created in early 199.3 by Governor Lawton Chiles. Chaired by Lt. Governor Buddy MacKay, the Commission brings together people from all over the state to develop a coordinated approach for protecting, enhancing and managing a statewide system of greenways. Commission members represent a wide variety of interests, including conservation/environment, recreation, busi -ness/development, forestry/agriculture, community groups, water management districts, regional planning Councils, state and local government, educators and citizens. The Commission was an outgrowth of the Florida Greenways Project, created in 1991 as a joint effort of 1000 Friends of Florida and The Conservation Fund, a national organization committed to advancing land and water conservation in America. The mission adopted by the Commission is to plan and support a statewide system of greenways linking natural areas and open spaces to benefit Floridians today and in generations to come. The Commission's Charge The Governor asked the Commission to join him in recognizing officially 150 state, regional and local greenway projects in 1995, the I 50th anniversary of Florida's statehood. He also charged the Commission with: assessing the current status of greenway activities within federal, state, regional and local government agencies and private organizations; developing a framework to support community greenway initiatives and promote interagency greenway activities; identifying statewide greenway issues and goals, and drafting recommended actions for meeting them; and drafting recommended actions for meeting them; and holding workshops to get input from citizens and elected officials. In all its work, the Commission's intent is to develop a statewide greenways system that relies on the voluntary participation of landowners and recognizes the importance of protecting private property rights, especially when promoting greenways through regulatory and growth management programs.