Environment - Miami and the Keys - page 459

Mangroves & Coastal Dunes
Where not shaved smooth by sand, South Florida's coastline is often covered with a three-
day stubble of mangroves. Mangroves are not a single species; the name refers to all trop-
ical trees and shrubs that have adapted to loose wet soil, saltwater and periodic root sub-
mergence. Mangroves also develop 'live birth,' germinating their seeds while they're still
attached to the parent tree. Of the more than 50 species of mangroves worldwide, only
three predominate in Florida: red, black and white.
Mangroves play a vital role on the peninsula, and their destruction usually sets off a
domino effect of ecological damage. Mangroves 'stabilize' coastal land, trapping sand, silt
and sediment. As this builds up, new land is created, which ironically strangles the man-
groves themselves. Mangroves mitigate the storm surge and damaging winds of hur-
ricanes, and they anchor tidal and estuary communities, providing vital wildlife habitats.
Coastal dunes are typically home to grasses and shrubs, saw palmetto and occasionally
pines and cabbage palm (or sabal palm, the Florida state tree). Sea oats, with large plumes
that trap wind-blown sand, are important for stabilizing dunes, while coastal hammocks
welcome the wiggly gumbo-limbo tree, whose red peeling bark has earned it the nickname
of 'tourist tree.'
In Florida, even the plants bite: the Panhandle has the most species of carnivorous plants
in the US, the result of its nutrient-poor sandy soil.
National, State & Regional Parks
About 26% of Florida's land lies in public hands, which breaks down to three national
forests, 11 national parks, 28 national wildlife refuges (including the first, Pelican Island),
and 160 state parks. Overall, attendance is up, with more than 20 million folks visiting
state parks annually. Florida's state parks have twice been voted the nation's best.
Florida's parks are easy to explore. The Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission ( ht-
tp://myfwc.com ) manages Florida's mostly undeveloped Wildlife Management Areas
(WMA). The website is an excellent resource for wildlife-viewing, as well as boating,
hunting, fishing and permits. For more info on public reserves, check out the following:
Florida State Parks ( www.floridastateparks.org )