South Florida Ecosystem Restoration: Task Force Needs to Improve Science Coordination to Increase the Likelihood of Success

摘要

South Florida, famous for the vast expanse of the Everglades wetlands, is an 18,000 square mile (about 11.5 million acre) area that includes a broad range of natural habitats, 6.5 million people, and significant tourist, agricultural, and other industries. Development of the state's varied natural resources has spurred the growth of South Florida's population and economy, but at the same time, caused the deterioration of its ecosystem and its natural areas. Restoration of the South Florida ecosystem has been a significant federal and state priority throughout the 1990s and into the new century. While efforts to restore parts of the ecosystem began earlier, the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 1996 formally established the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Force (Task Force) to coordinate and facilitate the efforts of the many federal, state, and local agencies and tribes participating in restoration projects. The Task Force--with the assistance of a working group formed of managers from federal, state, local, and tribal entities in South Florida--has identified the need to achieve three overall goals--improving water, improving habitat, and making development compatible with the ecosystem--to help achieve restoration.