In 2024, Martin County voters approved a half-cent sales tax for conservation; two years later more than 2,000 acres are protected and eight more properties are being pursued

In 2024, voters in Martin County, Florida, approved a half-cent sales tax dedicated to conservation, betting that a small, broad-based levy could protect the natural landscapes that define their communities. Just two years later, that decision is already reshaping the county’s map. More than 2,000 acres of wetlands, forests and wildlife habitat have been permanently protected, and county officials are actively pursuing eight additional properties for acquisition. As reported by Martin County Forever and local news outlets, the program is moving quickly from ballot measure to on-the-ground results, with new preserves opening to the public and more deals in the pipeline.

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