Division of State Lands
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of State Lands is Florida’s lead agency for environmental management and stewardship, serving as staff to the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund (Governor and Cabinet).
The division’s role goes far beyond just acquiring lands for protection. It provides oversight for the management of activities on more than 12 million acres of public lands, including lakes, rivers and islands. These public lands help ensure all Florida residents and visitors have the opportunity to truly appreciate Florida’s unique landscapes.
Florida Forever is Florida’s conservation and recreation lands acquisition program, a blueprint for conserving our natural resources and renewing our commitment to conserve our natural and cultural heritage. It replaces Preservation 2000 (P2000), the largest acquisition program of its kind in the United States. With a total of approximately 10.1 million acres of conservation land in Florida, more than 2.6 million acres were purchased under the Florida Forever and P2000 programs.
Florida Forever is more than an environmental land acquisition program - it is a program shaping the future of Florida. Acquisitions in this program provide a host of ecosystem benefits including water quality and quantity; resiliency to storm impact; habitat and species protection; and outdoor recreation. Through cooperative partnerships, the Florida Forever program will continue as the state’s blueprint for conserving our natural resources. This story map highlights just a small selection of projects led by the program.
The Division of State Lands also assists landowners who want to sell land to the state, buy land from the state or gain access to public lands.
State Lands Programs
Bureau of Appraisal
Supports land acquisition, disposition and management by contracting with independent appraisers throughout the state for unbiased opinion of the overall value of property to be purchased or sold.
Bureau of Public Land Administration
The Board of Trustees’ real estate administration program that generates revenue for the management, administration, protection and conservation of state-owned lands.
Bureau of Real Estate Services
The Bureau of Real Estate Services is responsible for activities related to negotiation, acquisition, disposition, exchange, donation and closing of real property.
Bureau of Survey and Mapping
Maintains a repository of land records, determines the location of land and water boundaries, and clearly delineates the boundaries of state-owned lands.
FL-SOLARIS
The Florida State Owned Lands and Records Information System (FL-SOLARIS) was developed and implemented to record and maintain the inventory of real estate properties (including both land and facilities) that are “owned, leased, rented, or otherwise occupied” by any state government entity.
Land and Recreation Grants Section
Promotes programs that foster partnerships to enhance and sustain Florida’s natural and cultural resources, and provide increased outdoor recreational opportunities for Florida’s residents and visitors.
Office of Environmental Services
Administers the Florida Forever program, the Acquisition and Restoration Council process, and compliance of land management and planning for all conservation lands owned by the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund.
Office of the Director - State Lands
Provides real estate and land management services to the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund.