Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
fire program implemented by the FPS as the project shifted into resource manage-
ment mode may yet resolve those early miscues. Without the grassroots activism of the
greater Miami-Dade community the project may have strayed further from its original
mission.
The American Littoral Society oversaw community participation in the Cape
Florida Project from 1993 through 2003. During those ten years, thousands of people
committed tens of thousands of volunteer hours to the restoration. People from every
conceivable walk of life were involved, from individuals, community groups, local
businesses, and large corporations to students from elementary school through uni-
versity. By the end of the project's first decade, more than three hundred species of na-
tive plants were represented in six distinct natural communities. There were roughly
165 species of birds listed for Cape Florida, with twelve known to use the site for nest-
ing. Forty-two butterfly species, six native species of mammal, and sixteen native rep-
tile and amphibian species called Cape Florida home. Cape Florida also provided
refuge to fifty-two threatened or endangered species, including a North American
crocodile (
Crocodylus acutus
) that had taken up residence in the restored mangrove
forest (Westervelt 2003).
The community activism that initially established Cape Florida in the public do-
main ultimately became a part of its culture. Amid the social and human tragedy of
Hurricane Andrew, the community united behind the restoration of its local park, set-
ting the stage for long-term stewardship and a better conservation ethic. That, when
all is said and done, could be the Cape Florida Project's most important legacy.
References
Clewell, A. F., J. Rieger, and J. Munro. 2000.
Guidelines for Developing and Managing Eco-
logical Restoration Projects
. 1st ed. Washington, DC: Society for Ecological Restoration In-
ternational.
Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Recreation and Parks. 1994.
“Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park Unit Management Plan, Addendum 9.” Unpublished
report. Tallahassee, FL.
Gann, G. 1995.
Cape Florida Project: Volunteer Restoration Manual
. Report to the American
Littoral Society. Miami, FL: The Institute for Regional Conservation.
Garcia, D., K. Westervelt, and B. Reposa. 1996.
Nature's Hope
. High school curriculum. Key
Biscayne, FL: MAST Academy.
Landsea, C., J. L. Franklin, C. J. McAdie, J. L. Beven II, J. M. Gross, B. R. Jarvinen, R. J. Pasch,
E. N. Rappaport, J. P. Dunion, and P. P. Dodge. 2004. “A Reanalysis of Hurricane Andrew's
Intensity.”
Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society
85: 1699-1712.
McAllister, B. 1938. “A Study of the Flora of Key Biscayne, Dade County, Florida.” Master's
thesis, Duke University, Durham, NC.
Miley, J., and K. Westervelt. 1994.
Plant-A-Seed Teaching Guide
. Elementary school curricu-
lum. Sandy Hook, NJ: American Littoral Society.
Westervelt, K. 2003. “Cape Florida Project Final Report.” Unpublished report. Sandy Hook,
NJ: American Littoral Society.
