1. United States
2. Fla.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to oppose further development projects that destroy Florida's natural lands and ecosystems. Our state's environmental heritage is being rapidly consumed by unchecked construction, and immediate action is needed to preserve what remains. Florida has already lost significant portions of its natural landscape to development. Every acre of wetlands, forests, and coastal areas that we pave over represents an irreversible loss of biodiversity, natural flood protection, and the unique character that defines our state. These natural areas provide essential ecosystem services including water filtration, storm surge protection, and carbon sequestration that cannot be replicated by human infrastructure. The economic argument for preservation is equally compelling. Florida's tourism industry, which generates billions in revenue annually, depends fundamentally on our natural beauty. Visitors come to see our springs, beaches, and wildlife, not strip malls and subdivisions. Once we destroy these natural assets for short-term development gains, we lose both the environmental benefits and the long-term economic value they provide. I am asking you to support legislation that prioritizes conservation over construction. This means strengthening protections for remaining natural areas, requiring comprehensive environmental impact assessments before approving new development projects, and investing in land acquisition programs that preserve critical habitats. We need policies that recognize natural lands as valuable assets rather than empty spaces waiting to be built upon. Future generations of Floridians deserve to inherit a state with functioning ecosystems and natural beauty, not one where every available space has been converted to concrete and asphalt. The development decisions we make today will determine whether Florida remains a naturally rich and resilient state or becomes an overdeveloped landscape vulnerable to flooding, heat, and environmental degradation. I respectfully request your commitment to protecting Florida's remaining natural lands from further development.