What Is the South Florida Ecosystem?

Many people see the ecosystem as just the natural environment. But the South Florida ecosystem is also home to humans and their built environment (cities, towns, and farms). Today we understand that all living beings, including humans, are interconnected. The South Florida ecosystem is not just the natural environment. It is both the natural and the built environment.

Why is the South Florida Ecosystem Important?

The South Florida ecosystem is a complex network extending from the Chain of Lakes south of Orlando to the coral reefs off the Florida Keys — over 18,000 square-miles of land and water. Within these boundaries is a wide array of upland, lowland, and marine habitats. Throughout the region are areas with special designations such as outstanding Florida waters, a national marine sanctuary, an international biosphere reserve, and numerous state and federal parks, preserves, and wildlife refuges — all of which are interconnected.

The built environment is equally complex. Developed areas from Kissimmee to Key West offer cultural diversity and an attractive climate. The region supports major sea and air transportation hubs, thriving tourism and agricultural industries, and national and international commerce. South Florida also possesses fine institutions of higher education and rich points of historical and architectural interest. Over 6.5 million residents and 37 million annual tourists rely on the region and its $200 billion economy for their livelihoods and well-being.

This unique and complicated national treasure is the physical, economic, and social anchor for the country’s fourth most populated state. It can be found nowhere else in the world.

More Than a River of Grass

South Florida is a mixture of distinct habitats encompassing lakes, swamps, upland pine woods, coastal mangrove forests, beaches and coral reefs – to name just a few. These interconnected habitats support a diverse array of plant and animal species, including economically important fish, wading birds, migratory waterfowl, and 68 federally-listed threatened and endangered species.

The Magnitude of the Problem

Disrupted Hydrology / Water Quality Degradation

Once water flowed unimpeded through the southern half of the state. Today flood control and water supply systems, agriculture, and development disrupt the region’s natural hydropatterns (depth, timing, and distribution of water). Runoff from cities and farms introduces high levels of phosphorus, nitrogen, and other contaminants, polluting many bodies of water. High discharges of stormwater into estuaries severely damage aquatic habitats that support seagrasses, oysters, and other species. Saltwater intrusion and pollutants threaten groundwater. These impacts have significantly stressed the natural system. The following underscore these problems:

» Half of the original Everglades has been drained, and perhaps lost forever.

» Two million acre-feet of water are lost from the natural system annually through discharge and seepage.

» Phosphorus and nitrogen from agricultural and urban runoff have contaminated Lake Okeechobee, the Everglades, and adjacent areas.

» Unnatural freshwater discharges have damaged coastal estuaries, including Florida Bay.

Loss of Habitat and Native Species

Natural habitats are now disconnected through growth and development. The rampant spread of invasive exotic species has further disrupted natural habitats. The cumulative loss of habitat has caused sharp declines in native plants and animals, placing many native species at risk. Specific impacts include:

» Wading-bird populations have dropped by 90%–95%.

» To date 68 plant and animal species are federally listed as threatened or endangered.

» The incidence of coral diseases in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary has increased 4-fold since 1996.

» Over 1.5 million acres of land are infested with invasive exotic plants.

» Since 1989 the biomass of turtlegrass in western Florida Bay has decreased by 25%.

Urban Development / Suburban Sprawl

Today South Florida is home to over 6.5 million people, over nine times the population in 1948 when the C&SF Project was authorized. This influx of people has led to dramatic changes to the landscape. Former wetlands are now agricultural lands. Parts of the historical Everglades are now suburbs. Large metropolitan areas cover most of the eastern coast and portions of the west coast.

As this development spread, older urban areas suffered. The migration to the suburbs reduced tax bases in urban zones and diverted resources to outlying areas. Growth in suburban and rural areas demanded more roads and services.

Today roads, hospitals, schools, and utilities are aging, and human services are overtaxed. Disinvestment and crime in inner cities are persistent problems. Increasingly, outlying areas are strained. For many people the quality of life has decreased. Some indications of built environment stresses include:

» There are thousands of contaminated sites (brownfields) along the southeast coast of Florida.

» Much of the eastern urban corridor of South Florida is characterized by income levels lower than are found in surrounding suburbs.

» The city of Miami is ranked the fourth poorest city in the nation.

» Miami-Dade County is ranked the third most congested area in the nation.

Why Should We Care?

A healthy ecosystem is not a nicety, it is a necessity. Water that is cleaned as it passes through the Everglades and the aquifer supports habitats throughout the region. Clean water also supports the state’s multiple industries and rapidly growing population. In South Florida the urban and the natural systems are inextricably linked. This makes every living thing in South Florida — human or nonhuman — a stakeholder.

"The Everglades is our mother… We must all work together to save her."

— Billy Cypress, Chairman, Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida

A Word from the Task Force

Purpose of this Report

The South Florida Ecosystem

Fixing the Problem

Progress Made

The Future

The Governor's Commission for a Sustainable South Florida

The South Florida Ecosystem Working Group

More Information