Nice work, Orange County! This year they added 1,700 acres of green space to their belt.
A lot of land has been bought by the Green PLACE program to make sure it stays wild and free for the animals that live there.
As part of this environmental success, a large area of 752 acres near Bithlo is now safe from the spread of concrete.
Orange County spent money from a big $100 million fund set aside in 2021 to support this environmental campaign as part of its big eco-goals.
It is no secret that Orange County has been buying a lot of green products, and Green PLACE is the leader in protecting land.
According to a press release from the Orange County Government, Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings said, “The Green PLACE program shows our unwavering commitment to protect the natural beauty of Orange County.”
Christianah Oyenuga from the Nature Conservancy was first in line to support the plan. According to the county’s press release, Oyenuga said, “These properties provide a wide variety of essential ecosystem services to residents and visitors who enjoy nature-based recreational opportunities.”
This shows how beneficial this ecological saving grace is for everyone.
She said that the balance between growing cities and taking care of nature’s playground is very important. She also said that continuing with the program is still very important for a healthy, biodiverse world.
Green PLACE has saved 25,182 acres since it began 30 years ago, giving the county more green areas. Orange County Commissioners just passed a new law called the Wetland Conservation Areas Ordinance.
This law aims to protect as many marshes and surface waters as possible while also respecting property rights. They made conservation even stronger in March by passing a new law to protect more trees and keep the county’s natural places healthy.
