Miami-Dade County celebrates Pine Rocklands Conservation Week, November 11 - 15

Miami-Dade County will celebrate Pine Rocklands Conservation Week from November 11 to 15 to highlight the environmental importance of this imperiled native habitat. The community is invited to follow along on social media to enjoy photos and videos and learn compelling information about one of the most unique habitats in the region, on Facebook and Instagram.

“Celebrating Pine Rocklands Conservation Week highlights our dedication to preserving one of South Florida’s rarest and most biodiverse ecosystems," said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. "By protecting and expanding these unique forests, we can actively combat the urban heat-island effect, helping to reduce air pollution and prevent heat-related illnesses. Preserving our Pine Rocklands not only enhances local air quality and offers vital wildlife habitats but also reinforces our commitment to sustainable growth and climate resilience, ensuring a healthier environment for generations to come."

Pine Rocklands are a globally scarce and threatened habitat. They support a unique and diverse plant community consisting of more than 450 native plant species. Some of these plant species are endemic to the pine rockland ecosystem, to the remaining pine rocklands in South Florida, and are found nowhere else in the world.

The remaining islands of pine rockland habitat form an archipelago of a critically endangered ecosystem that is important to our everyday lives. These natural areas filter our drinking water, clean our air, provide refuge for wildlife, and provide people with a place to connect with nature.

The Pine Rocklands’ rocky ground supports animals that have adapted to very little soil. They support more than 20 federally protected, endangered species, including the Miami tiger beetle, which is found nowhere else on Earth, and the Florida bonneted bat, which is the rarest bat in the United States, and the recently discovered Pine Rockland trapdoor spider.

The Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources’ Division of Environmental Resources Management (RER-DERM) implements the County’s Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) Program, which manages more than 84 natural area preserves covering more than 28,000 acres of various native plant communities, including over 1,500 acres of pine rocklands.  There are a variety of EEL volunteer workdays revolving around the conservation of these forest areas.

To learn more about pine rocklands visit Pine Rocklands - Miami-Dade County.