(1) A thriving rural economy with a strong agricultural base, healthy natural environment, and viable rural communities is an essential part of Florida. Rural areas also include the largest remaining intact ecosystems and best examples of remaining wildlife habitats as well as a majority of privately owned land targeted by local, state, and federal agencies for natural resource protection.

(2) The growth of Florida’s population can result in agricultural and rural lands being converted into residential or commercial development.

(3) The agricultural, rural, natural resource, and commodity values of rural lands are vital to the state’s economy, productivity, rural heritage, and quality of life.

(4) The Legislature further recognizes the need for enhancing the ability of rural landowners to obtain economic value from their property, protecting rural character, controlling urban sprawl, and providing necessary open space for agriculture and the natural environment, and the importance of maintaining and protecting Florida’s rural economy through innovative planning and development strategies in rural areas and the use of incentives that reward landowners for good stewardship of land and natural resources.

(5) The purpose of this act is to bring under public protection lands that serve to limit subdivision and conversion of agricultural and natural areas that provide economic, open space, water, and wildlife benefits by acquiring land or related interests in land such as perpetual, less-than-fee acquisitions, agricultural protection agreements, and resource conservation agreements and innovative planning and development strategies in rural areas.

History.—s. 62, ch. 2001-279.