Conservation Strategies for a Rare Ecosystem in Miami-Dade County

Pine rocklands are a globally critically imperiled ecosystem with limited geographic range, characterized by a high biodiversity of endemic herbaceous plants and frequent fire intervals (2-5 years). In Miami-Dade County, approximately 2% of the forest outside Everglades National Park (ENP) remains. The County adopted a forest property tax program in 1979, passed a forest preservation ordinance in 1984, and created a land acquisition program in 1991. Filling in the gaps between preservation areas is critical for the survival of a number of species. This case study describes the ongoing outreach work.

In a nutshell, this resource offers:

• Partnerships between government agencies and cultural institutions to conserve and preserve the rare pine rockland habitat type, including the Connect to Protect Network.
• A strategy to use already-existing regulations to enhance conservation and land acquisition. 
• A list of approaches that were successful in conserving pine rockland habitat on private lands.

How to use this resource:

• For ideas on how to conserve land through public acquisition and actions taken on private lands.
• As examples of tax breaks, covenants, and incentives to encourage conservation actions.

Author: James Duncan, Jennifer Possley, Janet Gil, Craig Grossenbacher

Date published: 2020

Point of contact: James Duncan, Environmental Resources Project Supervisor, Miami-Dade County Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources, duncaj@miamidade.gov 

Citation: Duncan, J.; Possley, J.; Gil, J.; and Grossenbacher, C. 2020. Conservation Strategies for a Globally Imperiled and Hyper-Fragmented Ecosystem: Acquisition, Regulations, Incentives and Outreach in Miami-Dade County. Cities and the Environment (CATE): Vol. 13: Iss. 1, Article 23.

Resource is available online here.