Florida's leaders just approved an $83 million land purchase for four acres of waterfront property in Destin—a deal that conservationists, budget watchdogs, and even members of the governor’s own party are calling into question. The land isn’t on the state’s Florida Forever conservation priority list. It leapfrogged dozens of more urgent projects. And most troubling of all: the landowner is a major political donor to the very officials who approved the deal.

This is not how public conservation dollars are supposed to work.

Land conservation is a critical need in Florida—we face threats from overdevelopment, rising seas, and loss of wildlife habitat. But when millions are diverted toward politically connected sellers instead of science-backed projects, it doesn’t just waste money—it weakens trust in the entire system.

Conservation groups like the Sierra Club have already raised alarms about this purchase. At $20 million per acre, it's one of the most expensive land acquisitions in state history—and it was rushed through without public input. Florida Forever funds are meant to protect our most important ecosystems, not reward campaign donors.

We are calling on the Florida Cabinet, including Governor Ron DeSantis, Attorney General James Uthmeier, Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, and CFO Blaise Ingoglia, to immediately cancel or freeze the Destin land deal and redirect those funds toward priority conservation lands identified by the state’s own experts.

We also urge the Florida Legislature’s oversight arm to launch an independent investigation into how this deal was approved, who benefited, and why standard public accountability processes were bypassed.

Florida deserves transparency. Florida’s environment deserves better. And the people of Florida deserve to know their conservation dollars are being used for nature—not political favors.

Sign this petition to demand accountability and protect Florida’s environmental future.

Photo: Luca Martinez/Tampa Bay Times