Herschel Vinyard, Secretary

The Department of Environmental Protection protects and manages Florida's natural resources while enforcing the environmental laws that protect these unique treasures. Overseeing the more than 160 award-winning state parks, the Department is also charged with conserving environmentally-sensitive lands, restoring waterways and preserving the state's historical and cultural resources through Florida Forever -- the program established by Governor Jeb Bush and the Florida Legislature that has acquired more than 650,000 acres with $2.73 billion since July 2001. Together with the South Florida Water Management District, the Department is implementing the largest environmental restoration project in the nation’s history – a 30-year, $13.5 billion State-federal partnership to restore America’s Everglades.