Mission: To restore, protect and manage Miami-Dade County's natural environment through conservation, resource management, environmental partnerships, and community outreach and to preserve these areas for present and future generations.
History
In 1991 the Parks Department established the Natural Areas Management Division to initiate active management of the natural areas under its jurisdiction. The groundwork for the program was funded by an Elizabeth Ordway Dunn Foundation grant which allowed Miami-Dade Parks, The Nature Conservancy, and Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden to form a conservation partnership.
Today, over 26,000 acres of native habitats occur on over 125 sites in Miami-Dade's nature preserve system, including globally-endangered pine rocklands, hammocks, scrub, wetlands, and coastal dunes. Less than 1% of Miami-Dade County's original 185,000 acres
of forest remain, making these remnant forests and wetlands particularly important and sensitive resources. The diversity of plant species found within the County's preserves is incredible; more than 60 species are found nowhere else in the world. These natural areas also provide food and shelter resources to native wildlife and serve as critical resting and feeding areas for migrating birds. Miami-Dade's natural areas are also focal points for environmental education, nature study, wildlife observation and other passive recreation activities.
Unfortunately, South Florida's hospitable environment has also favored the colonization of many invasive, non-native plant species. Over the last century, humans have introduced hundreds of plants from all parts of the world to south Florida. Most have caused no significant problems but some have become invasive, causing negative impacts by competing with native species for limited resources such as space, light and nutrients. With few or no natural enemies to control their growth, some highly invasive species such as Australian pine, Brazilian pepper, melaleuca, and air potato vine are capable of completely displacing native habitats.
