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3.1. Continue to maintain connections between and among pine rocklands and
other natural communities, such as tropical hardwood hammocks.
3.2. Continue to use prescribed fire to maintain pine rockland/tropical hardwood
hammock ecotones. Develop and budget for prescribed fire programs in adjacent
natural communities.
3.3. Continue to monitor the water table to ensure that pine rocklands are provided
with adequate moisture. Ensure that water levels are maintained at their historic
levels, where possible.
3.4. Continue to monitor for and control exotic plant and animal species.
3.5. Continue to control public use and eliminate improper use, such as mosquito
spraying and drift from agricultural and commercial operations.
3.6. Monitor and correct for both point source and non-point source pollution,
especially in outlying areas before they become populated.
3.7. Monitor and correct for negative population trends among important pine
rockland species. Each preserve containing pine rocklands should have a specific
monitoring plan that will alert managers to extirpations or downward trends in
populations of selected pine rockland species, including endemic species, listed
species, and keystone species.
4. Recreate pine rocklands where they have been destroyed by human activities.
4.1. Explore opportunities to utilize natural regeneration as a method to restore
connections between and among pine rocklands and other natural communities, as
well as to expand the total area of pine rocklands.
4.2. Explore opportunities to utilize secondary pine rocklands as habitat for wildlife.
5. Create pine rocklands where natural communities have been destroyed by human
activities.
5.1. Encourage the use of pine rocklands as landscape models within the built
landscape.
5.2. Refine guidelines and specifications for pine rockland creation. Promote the
development of refined pine rockland creation guidelines and the development of
specifications for all applicable areas of South Florida, including species lists which
clearly articulate that species should only be out-planted within their historic ranges.
5.3. Discourage the use of pine rocklands species outside of their historic ranges.
Many pine rockland and tropical hardwood hammock species have been promoted
for landscape use within South Florida. Unfortunately, many of there species have
been and are being planted outside of their historic ranges. Some species are now
escaping from cultivation and invading natural areas. The use of native species only
within their natural ranges should be encouraged.
6. Connect existing pine rocklands by acquiring lands for conservation between them. Land
acquisition, landowner agreements or conservation easements should be used to prevent
development of lands between existing conservation areas and to restore lands where possible.
Lands acquired as connectors between conservation areas containing pine rocklands need not
include pine rocklands. Historically, pine rocklands existed as a dominant habitat type with
Page 3-194
PINE ROCKLANDS Multi-Species Recovery Plan for South Florida
other habitat types embedded or surrounding them. Opportunities to use landscapes such as
canal banks and roadsides as greenways dominated by native vegetation should be explored.
7. Encourage community-level research. More research is needed on wildlife habitat needs in
terms of pine rockland functions and biodiversity, pine rockland creation and recreation
methods, sea-level rise in the Florida Keys, and historical hydrology of pine rocklands.
8. Monitor land management actions. All management actions should be monitored to
determine their effectiveness, and changes should be made to management activities as
appropriate. Managers should have a plan for monitoring relative population levels of selected
plant and animal species.
9. Increase public awareness. Public understanding and approval are required for any
conservation effort to be successful. Public announcements should highlight land acquisition
projects such as Miami-Dade Countys Environmentally Endangered Lands Program and
CARL. Environmental education programs in South Florida should be encouraged to
distribute materials or develop lesson plans on pine rockland habitats, pine rockland species
and the importance of maintaining natural biodiversity.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
ENVIRONMENTALLY ENDANGERED LANDS PROGRAM
MANAGEMENT PLAN
PART II: MANAGEMENT OF SPECIFIC HABITAT TYPES
CHAPTER 1: THE PINE ROCKLAND HABITAT
Prepared by:
URS Corporation Southern
With the support of
The Institute for Regional Conservation and
Muller and Associates, Inc.
August 2007
EEL Program, Management Plan, Part II – Pine Rockland (DRAFT) _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Page ii
PART II: Management of Specific Habitat Types
CHAPTER 1: The Pine Rockland Habitat
Table of Contents
1.0 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................................1
1.1 OVERVIEW OF THE PINE ROCKLAND ECOSYSTEM................................................................................................1
1.2 PURPOSE ..............................................................................................................................................................2
2.0 HISTORICAL REFERENCE CONDITIONS FOR THE PINE ROCKLAND ECOSYSTEM ....................3
2.1 ORIGINAL PINE ROCKLAND DISTRIBUTION IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY.................................................................3
2.2 PHYSIOGRAPHY ...................................................................................................................................................3
2.2.1 Geology.......................................................................................................................................................3
2.2.2 Soils.............................................................................................................................................................5
2.2.3 Hydrology....................................................................................................................................................5
2.3 CLIMATE..............................................................................................................................................................6
2.4 VEGETATION STRUCTURE AND COMPOSITION .....................................................................................................6
2.4.1 Canopy ........................................................................................................................................................6
2.4.2 Subcanopy ...................................................................................................................................................7
2.4.3 Herb Layer ..................................................................................................................................................7
2.5 ASSOCIATION WITH OTHER HABITAT TYPES .......................................................................................................8
2.6 HISTORICAL SUCCESSIONAL PROCESSES .............................................................................................................9
2.6.1 Fire............................................................................................................................................................10
2.6.2 Tropical Cyclones .....................................................................................................................................10
2.6.3 Freezes ......................................................................................................................................................11
2.7 RARE ORGANISMS .............................................................................................................................................11
3.0 CURRENT CONDITIONS, THREATS, AND TRENDS ................................................................................12
3.1 CURRENT DISTRIBUTION OF PINE ROCKLANDS..................................................................................................12
3.2 PHYSIOGRAPHY .................................................................................................................................................12
3.2.1 Soils...........................................................................................................................................................12

3.1. Continue to maintain connections between and among pine rocklands and

other natural communities, such as tropical hardwood hammocks.

3.2. Continue to use prescribed fire to maintain pine rockland/tropical hardwood

hammock ecotones. Develop and budget for prescribed fire programs in adjacent

natural communities.

3.3. Continue to monitor the water table to ensure that pine rocklands are provided

with adequate moisture. Ensure that water levels are maintained at their historic

levels, where possible.

3.4. Continue to monitor for and control exotic plant and animal species.

3.5. Continue to control public use and eliminate improper use, such as mosquito

spraying and drift from agricultural and commercial operations.

3.6. Monitor and correct for both point source and non-point source pollution,

especially in outlying areas before they become populated.

3.7. Monitor and correct for negative population trends among important pine

rockland species. Each preserve containing pine rocklands should have a specific

monitoring plan that will alert managers to extirpations or downward trends in

populations of selected pine rockland species, including endemic species, listed

species, and keystone species.

4. Recreate pine rocklands where they have been destroyed by human activities.

4.1. Explore opportunities to utilize natural regeneration as a method to restore

connections between and among pine rocklands and other natural communities, as

well as to expand the total area of pine rocklands.

4.2. Explore opportunities to utilize secondary pine rocklands as habitat for wildlife.

5. Create pine rocklands where natural communities have been destroyed by human

activities.

5.1. Encourage the use of pine rocklands as landscape models within the built

landscape.

5.2. Refine guidelines and specifications for pine rockland creation. Promote the

development of refined pine rockland creation guidelines and the development of

specifications for all applicable areas of South Florida, including species lists which

clearly articulate that species should only be out-planted within their historic ranges.

5.3. Discourage the use of pine rocklands species outside of their historic ranges.

Many pine rockland and tropical hardwood hammock species have been promoted

for landscape use within South Florida. Unfortunately, many of there species have

been and are being planted outside of their historic ranges. Some species are now

escaping from cultivation and invading natural areas. The use of native species only

within their natural ranges should be encouraged.

6. Connect existing pine rocklands by acquiring lands for conservation between them. Land

acquisition, landowner agreements or conservation easements should be used to prevent

development of lands between existing conservation areas and to restore lands where possible.

Lands acquired as connectors between conservation areas containing pine rocklands need not

include pine rocklands. Historically, pine rocklands existed as a dominant habitat type with

Page 3-194

PINE ROCKLANDS Multi-Species Recovery Plan for South Florida

other habitat types embedded or surrounding them. Opportunities to use landscapes such as

canal banks and roadsides as greenways dominated by native vegetation should be explored.

7. Encourage community-level research. More research is needed on wildlife habitat needs in

terms of pine rockland functions and biodiversity, pine rockland creation and recreation

methods, sea-level rise in the Florida Keys, and historical hydrology of pine rocklands.

8. Monitor land management actions. All management actions should be monitored to

determine their effectiveness, and changes should be made to management activities as

appropriate. Managers should have a plan for monitoring relative population levels of selected

plant and animal species.

9. Increase public awareness. Public understanding and approval are required for any

conservation effort to be successful. Public announcements should highlight land acquisition

projects such as Miami-Dade Countys Environmentally Endangered Lands Program and

CARL. Environmental education programs in South Florida should be encouraged to

distribute materials or develop lesson plans on pine rockland habitats, pine rockland species

and the importance of maintaining natural biodiversity.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

ENVIRONMENTALLY ENDANGERED LANDS PROGRAM

MANAGEMENT PLAN

PART II: MANAGEMENT OF SPECIFIC HABITAT TYPES

CHAPTER 1: THE PINE ROCKLAND HABITAT

Prepared by:

URS Corporation Southern

With the support of

The Institute for Regional Conservation and

Muller and Associates, Inc.

August 2007

EEL Program, Management Plan, Part II – Pine Rockland (DRAFT) _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Page ii

PART II: Management of Specific Habitat Types

CHAPTER 1: The Pine Rockland Habitat

Table of Contents

1.0 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................................1

1.1 OVERVIEW OF THE PINE ROCKLAND ECOSYSTEM................................................................................................1

1.2 PURPOSE ..............................................................................................................................................................2

2.0 HISTORICAL REFERENCE CONDITIONS FOR THE PINE ROCKLAND ECOSYSTEM ....................3

2.1 ORIGINAL PINE ROCKLAND DISTRIBUTION IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY.................................................................3

2.2 PHYSIOGRAPHY ...................................................................................................................................................3

2.2.1 Geology.......................................................................................................................................................3

2.2.2 Soils.............................................................................................................................................................5

2.2.3 Hydrology....................................................................................................................................................5

2.3 CLIMATE..............................................................................................................................................................6

2.4 VEGETATION STRUCTURE AND COMPOSITION .....................................................................................................6

2.4.1 Canopy ........................................................................................................................................................6

2.4.2 Subcanopy ...................................................................................................................................................7

2.4.3 Herb Layer ..................................................................................................................................................7

2.5 ASSOCIATION WITH OTHER HABITAT TYPES .......................................................................................................8

2.6 HISTORICAL SUCCESSIONAL PROCESSES .............................................................................................................9

2.6.1 Fire............................................................................................................................................................10

2.6.2 Tropical Cyclones .....................................................................................................................................10

2.6.3 Freezes ......................................................................................................................................................11

2.7 RARE ORGANISMS .............................................................................................................................................11

3.0 CURRENT CONDITIONS, THREATS, AND TRENDS ................................................................................12

3.1 CURRENT DISTRIBUTION OF PINE ROCKLANDS..................................................................................................12

3.2 PHYSIOGRAPHY .................................................................................................................................................12

3.2.1 Soils...........................................................................................................................................................12