UPDATE (May 19, 2025): Breaking GOOD news — Guana River is safe for now! On late Monday, the application for the land swap of 600 acres within Guana River Wildlife Management Area was withdrawn by The Upland LLC! This is a major win for public lands in Florida, and we could not have accomplished this without YOUR voice. Thank you to Floridians across the state for speaking out to Stop the Swap and keep Florida wild. 

Florida’s public lands are once again at risk of a heist. The State is pushing forward a proposal to give away 600 acres of state-owned land in the Guana River Wildlife Management Area through a land exchange with a private developer, The Upland, LLC.  

This area is part of the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve and has been protected since its public purchase in 1984. Acquired under the landmark Conservation and Recreation Lands (CARL) program, this parcel was funded by Florida taxpayers and intended to be protected forever. Yet without meaningful public notice, this land exchange was quietly added to the May 21, 2025 Acquisition and Restoration Council (ARC) agenda, bypassing public trust and limiting the opportunity for Floridians to weigh in. 

Why We Oppose the Guana River WMA Land Swap: 

• Irreplaceable Lands Meant to Be Forever Wild: Guana River WMA was purchased under a precursor to Florida Forever, using taxpayer dollars for permanent protection. Approving this exchange undermines the principle of land bought for conservation—FOREVER.  

• Net Conservation Value Isn’t Just Acreage: The state claims a 5:1 trade as a “net gain.” But this is a flawed and dangerous argument. The Guana River WMA parcel contains rare and threatened coastal habitats—maritime hammock, mesic flatwoods, salt marsh—critical to biodiversity and climate resilience. You can’t swap 600 acres of coastal lands for thousands of fragmented inland parcels and pretend it’s a “win.” 

• Public Access Will Be Lost: Guana River WMA provides public hunting, hiking, paddling, and wildlife viewing. This access will be permanently eliminated, despite claims that recreation will be added elsewhere. 

• It Sets a Precedent We Cannot Afford: This is not just about 600 acres. It’s about opening the door for future swaps of conservation lands—eroding one of the nation’s premier land conservation programs through a slippery accounting maneuver. Your favorite place to recreate or visit could be next.  

• Backroom Decision-Making Without Public Oversight: This major land swap—affecting public lands bought with taxpayer dollars—was quietly added to the ARC agenda, overlaps with another agency meeting, and provides minimal time for meaningful input.