Central Florida’s natural setting is world-renowned and precious to all residents. Within an hour’s drive, Central Floridians can enjoy the beach, canoeing or hiking at a natural spring of trail, or riding a bike on the most challenging hills in the state. Central Florida is also home to hundreds of distinct species, exotic flora and fauna. Preserving access to the outdoors and maintaining the many “globally” significant animals, plants and critical ecosystems in our region is crucial as Central Florida continues to grow.

Through community meetings, presentations and surveys, residents have overwhelmingly said that they desire a region that includes as much green space, natural habitat and recreational area as possible.

As part of the “How Shall We Grow?” initiative, City and County leaders from across the region have been meeting to develop policies that can help implement elements of a shared regional vision for Central Florida.

The regional leaders made the unanimous decision to identify and develop a “Regional Green Print” - a detailed plan, vision and design for the shared public green spaces and conserved lands - as the first step toward creating a strategy for preserving the natural beauty of the Central Florida. 

The first Regional Green Print committee meeting took place on April 12, 2007 and was spearheaded by leaders in Lake County. With more than 20 people in attendance, it marked the first time ever that county managers and land acquisition managers from all seven counties have met to discuss and create a plan to preserve and protect Central Florida’s natural spaces. Also present at the table were leaders from many of the key environmental organizations across the region.

Developing a Regional Green Print is a pro-active approach to safeguarding our precious lands.  Similar to a blueprint used in building, a Green Print is a detailed plan, vision and design for the conservation, open space and recreational lands that span the Central Florida region. The aim of the Regional Green Print is to create a structure led by representatives from interested agencies and local governments to meet regularly in order to identify and pursue mutual goals associated with regional land acquisition, maintenance, management and public access.

This effort is designed to build on earlier work done through Naturally Central Florida, which was a collaborative effort between the University of Central Florida, myregion.org and many other organizations across Central Florida to identify the key “environmental jewels” of the region. Naturally Central Florida identified the seven jewels of Central Florida: Volusia Conservation Corridor, Wekiva Ocala Greenway, Saint Johns-Econolockhatchee, The Indian River Lagoon, The Greater Kissimmee Prairie, The Green Swamp and The Lake Wales Ridge. These seven systems are described as “Must-Save” Places. 

The goal of this new effort is to increase the scope to ensure that all key environmental areas within the region, not just those identified through Naturally Central Florida, are included in future discussions about land preservation.

Once the specific Green Print has been created, the committee will begin to look at regional approaches, strategies and opportunities that could help use collaboration as a tool to increase the land acquisition power for the entire region.

With open land across the region currently being developed at a rapid pace, little time can be wasted in the effort to preserve the natural integrity of Central Florida. Through this proactive regional approach, it is hoped that future residents of Central Florida will continue to have the opportunity to enjoy the great environmental beauty of this region.