Inside the Bartow Civic Center Saturday morning pancakes and sausages were on the grill but outside — where the aroma made it evident what was going on inside — there were people looking for signatures to put a constituional amendment on the ballot in Florida to require money for water and land conservation.

In order to get a spot on the ballot in the 2013 election the drive that started about two months ago has to get 450,000 signatures. It proposes to fund water and land conservation management by protecting water quality in rivers, lakes and streams. It would protect the beaches and shores. It would protect and restore the Everglades and other degraded natural systems and waterways. It would improve fish and wildlife habitat, protect forests and wetlands and restore conservation lands that are a part of Florida’s natural heritage, economy and quality of life. It would manage existing state and natural areas, parks and trails for water supply habitat and recreation.