State Budget Delivers High Levels of Funding for Everglades

In June, the state management agreed on a funds to finish the 2025 legislative session. Audubon celebrated the passage of a state park safety invoice, stopped amendments that may have prompted the enlargement of city sprawl, and labored with elected officers to develop protections for delicate ecosystems. Audubon Florida’s coverage staff, led by Senior Director of Coverage Beth Alvi, labored time beyond regulation to remain on prime of worrisome payments, collaborate with elected officers on invoice language and amendments, and hold our stakeholders updated.

The legislature handed a $115 billion funds for the approaching fiscal yr. It additionally contains greater than $742 million for Everglades restoration. Whereas the Home’s preliminary proposed funding for Everglades restoration was woefully quick, the 2025 funds numbers for Everglades restoration replicate a robust and continued dedication to safeguarding Florida’s iconic ecosystem. With a complete of $550 million allotted for Complete Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) tasks alone and sturdy funding for complementary efforts just like the Northern Everglades, this funds underscores the state’s prioritization of environmental resilience and water useful resource safety. For the primary time, CERP tasks had been funded individually, in contrast to up to now when CERP funds had been appropriated as a lump sum. These investments will speed up progress on important restoration tasks that profit ecosystems, communities, and Florida’s economic system.

This text was printed within the State of the Everglades Report/Spring 2025 edition.