Forests

Natural Forest Communities (NFC) are rare upland plant communities that are protected in Miami-Dade County.

These plant communities typically consist of Pine Rocklands and Tropical Hardwood Hammock habitats that contain a large diversity of native plants, many of which are found only in within Miami-Dade County.

Historically, these habitats covered approximately 180,000 acres in South Florida and today have been reduced to about 3,000 acres due to development and agriculture. Pine rocklands and hammocks are found on some of the highest elevations in the County, and prior to the construction of extensive drainage systems, were the first areas utilized for development.

In order to protect, preserve and manage these remaining natural habitats, Miami-Dade County requires a NFC removal permit for activity that results in the removal or damage to any vegetation in a designated NFC, including impacts to any tree, shrub or groundcover plant. These permits are required to ensure that impacts to the NFCs are minimized and that remaining areas are preserved and managed.

NFC protection and preservation helps ensure that these habitats and their associated rare plants, animals and geologic features remain part of Miami-Dade County’s natural heritage for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations.