TALLAHASSEE, FLA - May 1, 2001 - Environmentalists stood and applauded yesterday as the Senate gave final passage to the Florida Forever bill to continue the state's $300 million-a-year land preservation program.

The 40-0 vote sent the legislation (CS-SB 908) to Gov. Jeb Bush. He is a supporter who came up with the Florida Forever name for the successor to the popular Preservation 2000 program.

Just like P2000, which expires next year, Florida Forever will spend $3 billion over a 10-year period, most of it for land purchases.

''Over a million acres of endangered Florida land has been set aside through this program for our future generations,'' said Senate Majority Leader Jack Latvala, who sponsored the Florida Forever bill.

''Not only can we continue setting aside our endangered lands for the future but we can also use some of that money for some of the critical needs that we have in terms of restoring some of that land,'' said the Palm Harbor Republican.

The new program puts greater emphasis on and money behind land management, water resource development and acquisition of parks in urban areas than does P2000. It also allows spending program dollars for roads, boardwalks, restrooms and other capital outlay to enable the public to use the conservation lands.

Voters laid the groundwork for the new program in November by passing a constitutional amendment to continue the state's ability to borrow money for environmental land purchases.

Florida Audubon President Clay Henderson called Florida Forever ''our lasting legacy'' and praised Bush and legislative leaders instrumental in its passage ''our new conservation heroes.''

He cited Latvala, House Resource and Land Management Council Chairman Lee Constantine, R-Altamonte Springs; House Speaker John Thrasher, R-Orange Park, and Senate President Toni Jennings, R-Orlando.

Nature Conservancy Florida Board Chairman Joseph Hixon also praised the measure.

''It is gratifying to me that our state has chosen to enter the 21st century with a listing commitment to conservation,'' he said. ''Our grandchildren will be grateful.''

But environmental lobbyist Laurie Macdonald, who represents the Sierra Club, Florida League of Conservation Voters, Florida Defenders of Wildlife and other groups, sounded a note of caution.

''We're glad to have a program but we need to do a reality check on this,'' she said. ''The effect of the program has been to cut back on the amount of funding that goes to conservation areas.''

The state's traditional conservation land-buying program that gets 50 percent of P2000 dollars, or $150 million a year, will be reduced to 35 percent, or $105 million.

Water management districts also will get $105 million with a requirement to spend at least half of that on land purchases. But that means they will be able to spend the other half on water resource development, Macdonald said.

Environmentalists also are worried about a provision that will allow roads, power lines and pipelines across the conservation lands. The legislation establishes criteria that must be met before the governor and state Cabinet can allow such projects, but Macdonald said the bill is vague compared to existing rules.

She said other sections of Florida Forever also are vague and hard to follow and that environmentalists began talking about seeking a ''glitch bill'' next year to deal with those issues.

The funds for environmental land preservation would be distributed as follows:

$105 million, Department of Environmental Protection for conservation and recreation lands.

$105 million, water management districts.

$72 million, Florida Communities Trust Fund for local government matching grants.

$4.5 million, Florida Greenways and Trails Program.

$4.5 million, Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

$4.5 million, Division of Recreation and Parks.

$4.5 million, Division of Forestry.