The Sunshine State is growing- and fast! Even the moderate projections show that Florida’s population will reach around 33.7 million by 2070. That is more than 15 million people in Florida than 2010! With a future growth of Florida that is so significant, some planning must start now. A recent article by Florida Realtors discusses The University of Florida’s GeoPlan Center, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and 1000 Friends of Florida developed a series of GIS-based state and regional maps to explore possible growth and development throughout the state in a project called Florida 2070.
“Our goal is to generate informed discussion on how our state develops over the next fifty years,” says 1000 Friends President Ryan Smart.
Florida 2070, whose data can be found on their website here, shows different maps with different possible scenarios for the future growth of Florida. They show a map if current population and growth trends continue, and another of an alternative, including conservation and already developed lands.
Florida 2070 “clearly shows that what may seem like small conservation and development decisions we make today have significant, long-term ramifications,” says 1000 Friends Communications Director Vivian Young.
“The growing power of geographic information systems (GIS) and the extensive data available for Florida allow us to develop complex representations of alternative future scenarios for Florida,” says Peggy Carr of UF’s GeoPlan Center. “Clearly land is a finite resource and the decisions made about its use need to account for our long term future.”
The future of Florida is exciting! For the full Florida 2070 report as well as an interactive map, visit their website. The project also explores the importance and future of sustainability in Florida, a state with many important ecosystems.
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