The Conservancy, Inc.
By Dr. Jim Gore,
The Conservancy Inc.
To conserve the biodiversity, environmental quality, and natural resources
of Southwest Florida's native ecosystems for present and future generations.
We live in the only intact subtropical ecosystem in the continental
United States. This unique treasure is in our hands to conserve and protect
as we enter the next century. In the face of today's urgent environmental
challenges, we would be wise to remember and appreciate conservation lessons
of the past before deciding on the best road for the future. To paraphrase
a popular saying, "If we do not learn from our mistakes, we are doomed
to repeat them." As we continue to conserve our natural areas, we
must realize that all of today's decisions regarding these lands will determine
the eventual sustainability of our rare, environmental heritage — in other
words, our "one and only."
Next Century Directions Can We Make the Connection?
There are two alternative roads leading to the next century. One leads
to a steady decline in even our most protected areas, the other to sustained
and functioning native ecosystems. Clearly, one of the most important decisions
facing us in 1994 is whether to preserve isolated pieces of sensitive land
or to conserve native ecosystems connected by corridors. The consequences
of today's choice will be either a mosaic of isolated "green"
patches or a system of natural corridors connecting fragile inland wetlands
and watersheds to coastal estuaries and the Gulf of Mexico.
As the human population increases in Collier County over the next decade,
we would be wise to consider the importance of interconnected natural ecosystems
and their essential role in our everyday lives. These natural systems filter
pollutants from the air, water and soil. They aid in cooling streams and
soils through shading while protecting and enhancing the water quality
of rivers and lakes. And wetlands recharge groundwater aquifers and buffer
developed areas from floodwaters, saving lives and millions of dollars.
In the past, the natural flow ways of water have been altered as wetlands
were filled and drained to make way for people and agriculture. Today,
we realize that large drainage canals not only release the freshwater that
we need into the Gulf, but, along with roads, have isolated natural ecosystems
from one another. The Golden Gate Canal, for example, moves enough freshwater
into Naples Bay on an average summer day to supply the water needs of Collier
County for 10 days during the height of the winter season. Not only is
that water lost to us and to inland wetlands, but it also changes the salinity
of Naples Bay, making it much less productive. In addition, the canal has
changed the direction of natural water flow, isolating wetland ecosystems
in the process.
Collier County's isolated refuges and reserves will slowly deteriorate
unless they are connected. In many cases the natural systems that once
fed and balanced these pristine reserves either no longer exist or are
too developed to be restored. In other cases, watersheds that help maintain
our coastal estuaries, swamps and forests can still be recovered, but complex
political issues must be resolved before restoration can begin.
According to Dr. Jim Gore, Director of The Conservancy's Environmental
Protection Division, "Our last chance to protect our natural heritage
is to conserve large, contiguous areas that already connect, or, after
restoration, could reconnect the region's native ecosystems." The
area known as Belle Meade is a particularly appropriate example. This area
of wetlands and intermingled pine flatwood uplands is the headwaters of
the watershed which feeds into Rookery Bay. This area of high productivity
stores flood waters and filters the chemical contaminants in water. Thus,
the freshwater flows which reach the estuary are of high quality and are
balanced to maintain salinity concentrations necessary to sustain the diversity
of life and productivity of the Rookery Bay estuary. Without connections
to the upper watershed, Rookery Bay becomes an isolated ecosystem fragment
subject to the pollutants and altered flows of a developed watershed.
Our laws governing development and the environment can either focus
on scattered regulations for individual, isolated parcels or can form a
comprehensive approach for the protection, maintenance and restoration
of reserves and connecting corridors.
Future scenarios are being debated now. Will this region be a mosaic
of land fragments in slow decline or will future maps show natural corridors
connecting healthy native ecosystems that are fully functional?
Connected natural ecosystems in the twenty-first century offer innumerable
benefits to Florida's diverse wildlife. Many of our endangered and threatened
species, such as black bears, panthers and bobcats, require large home
ranges in order to survive, mate and raise their young. "Without a
doubt, the most critical issue for the wildlife of Southwest Florida is
the relentless, devastating loss of habitat," says Dyanne Singler,
Manager of The Conservancy's Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. "Residential
and commercial developments obviously encroach upon native wildlife habitat.
Access roads through these developed areas also take an enormous toll.
The crossroads issue for wildlife is very literal. Their home ranges are
crisscrossed with highways, state roads and canals which invite human interaction
and interference," adds Singler.
Florida's wildlife species need room to roam. The greatest value of
connected ecosystems is in maintaining the vitality and diversity of native
plant and animal populations. Conserved natural corridors can allow wildlife
the freedom to move between feeding and shelter areas of their ranges without
as much danger of being killed on roadways or lost in towns and cities.
Natural areas and entire ecosystems must be protected, maintained and restored
through strong public and private partnerships if the region's native plants
and animals are to survive in the next century. In Singler's opinion, "Plants
and animals are adapted to specific ecosystems-only we can guarantee the
continued viability of these lands."
"Many experts agree that we have the ability to make development
sustainable, to ensure that we meet the needs of the present without compromising
the ability of future generations to meet their own needs," says Jim
Gore. "But local efforts toward that goal, such as the Outstanding
Florida Water designation for Wiggins Pass and listing Belle Meade in the
CARL program, require community understanding, involvement and grass roots
support. This is one of our most important challenges," adds Gore.
Lands must be acquired for conservation within the next 5 years-after
that time, most land still available will be used for other purposes. Even
now, The Conservancy is increasing its capability to maintain and restore
the ecological viability of already acquired lands. Good stewardship will
become increasingly important.
Will these lands be allowed to degrade due to isolation from the systems
that feed them and from the invasion of exotic species? Or will our reserves
flourish from reconnection to the web of adjoining systems which sustains
them?
The Conservancy will expand its leadership in the area of stewardship.
We will strive to be an excellent community resource in this area, offering
our services to other groups to help design and implement management plans
for natural areas.
Text and graphics: The Conservancy Inc.
January 2, 1997
Dr. Jim Gore
The Conservancy Inc.
1450 Merrihue Drive
Naples FL 33942
Phone: (941) 262-0304
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