1. Good 29News 2. Bad News 3. Good News

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1 Florida s Endangered Mangroves and Their Protection and Restoration as a Lesson for Mangrove Management Around the World Roy R. Robin Lewis III, MA, PWS President Coastal Resources Group, Inc. [501(c)(3) notfor-profit tax deductible organization] Salt Springs, Florida, USA February 21, Good 29News 2. Bad News 3. Good News LESRRL3@GMAIL.COM 7 29 Worldwide Species of Mangroves 1.Duke (1992) lists 69 species of plants called mangroves. 2. Included in this list are three species of brackish water fern (Acrostichum aureum,, A. danaeifolium and A. speciosum, and one species of brackish water palm, Nypa fruticans). 3. Six species of Rhizophora occur worldwide. 4. Five species of Avicennia occur worldwide. 5. Only one species of Laguncularia (racemosa) is reported. Ecological Functions of Mangrove Forests 1. Direct Energy Sources 2. Habitat 3. Water Quality Maintenance Sediment removal, nutrient retention and transformation, oxygen addition 4. Shoreline Stabilization and Erosion Control 1

2 45 Elevation Ranges and Mean Elevations (NGVD Datum) of 10 Plant Species Found in the Control Transect of an Undisturbed Mangrove Forest Community Near Wolf Branch Creek, Tampa Bay, Florida, USA (Modified from Detweiler et al. 1975). SPECIES NO. OF RANGE IN RANGE IN MEAN MEAN QUADRATS FEET METERS ELEVATION ELEVATION IN FEET IN METERS Rhizophora mangle Avicennia germinans Laguncularia racemosa Spartina alterniflora Salicornia virginica Sesuvium portulacastrum Limonium carolinianum Batis maritima Borrichia frutescens Philoxerus vermicularis Duration of Flooding as a % of the Tide Cycle? <30% >70% Duration of Drying as a % of the Tide Cycle? Fort Myers and Sanibel Island Naples and Clam Bay Everglades Wetland Research Park Marco Island and Fruit Farm Creek Everglades National Park West Lake, Hollywood Miami Florida Keys and Key West West Lake Mangrove Restoration Project, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA, 500 ha of hydrologic and major excavation methods of restoration, cost USD$6 million and the design and development of the $1 million Anne Kolb Mangrove Park and Environmental Education Center Time Zero July Time Zero + 27 Months 90 Time Zero + 78 months- January

3 10 AUG 94 Fort Myers and Sanibel Island Naples and Clam Bay Everglades Wetland Research Park Marco Island and Fruit Farm Creek 10 AUG 94 From Valentine-Rose and Lyman

4 10 AUG 94 This is the result of a mangrove heart attack! January 11, 2007 From Finn et al From Valentine-Rose and Lyman

5 29 ECOHYDROLOGY ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES TO MANGROVE RESTORATION Ecological Mangrove Restoration (EMR) versus Planting Only 1. Understand Autecology and Community Ecology 2. Understand Normal Hydrology 3. Assess Modifications to Hydrology or Added Stress? 4. Select the Restoration Site 5. Restore or Create Normal Hydrology, or Remove or Reduce Stress 6. Plant Mangroves Only As Needed SUCCESS! 1. Build a Nursery, Grow Mangrove Seedlings and Plant Mangroves (GARDENING) FAILURE**#!!* 5

6 Lewis et al Available at 1. Good 29News 2. Bad News 3. Good News Historical ecological studies of mangroves in Florida have led the world to understand and appreciate mangrove forests as highly productive and important parts of coastal ecology worldwide. Ecological Functions of Mangrove Forests 1. Direct Energy Sources 2. Habitat 3. Water Quality Maintenance Sediment removal, nutrient retention and transformation, oxygen addition 4. Shoreline Stabilization and Erosion Control Detrital Food Web Bill Odum and Eric Heald, University of Miami, 1972 Detrital Food Web Original Concept from Lugo and Snedaker (1975) modified by Estevez and Mosura (1985) 6

7 8 Adult Resident Nekton or Forage Fish and Invertebrate Species from Restored Mangrove Habitat, Tampa Bay From Lewis et al Habitat Mosaic Concept (Lewis et al. 1985) Original Graphic From Dr. Grant Gilmore 7

8 8 Adult Resident Nekton or Forage Fish and Invertebrate Species LEWIS ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC Good 29News 2. Bad News 3. Good News The lessons of historical ecology in Florida and around the world have been largely forgotten or ignored in recent decades and mangroves are no longer studied or protected at the level they need Area of Mangroves Worldwide 40,000,000 35,000,000 30,000,000 25,000,000 Giri et al million ha 20,000,000 15,000,000 10,000,000 hectares 5,000, CURRENT RATE OF LOSS = 150,000 HA/YR 8

9 Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, February 16,

10 1. Sea Level: Rising Sea Level Condition Transgressive Shoreline 2007 Lewis Environmental Services, Inc. 2. Sea Level: Rising Sea Level With Barrier 3. Sea Level: Rising Sea Level With Mangroves Keeping Pace 4. Sea Level: Rising Sea Level With Mangroves Keeping Pace Peat Layer Increasing in Thickness FRESHWATER INPUT Peat Layer Increasing in Thickness 2007 Lewis Environmental Services, Inc Lewis Environmental Services, Inc Lewis Environmental Services, Inc. 5. Sea Level: Rising Sea Level With Mangroves Keeping Pace 5. Sea Level: Rising Sea Level With Mangroves Keeping Pace Freshwater Input: 1. Less SO4 2. Fe (iron) precipitates S 3. Both inorganic and organic sediment deposition This only works if the mangroves are healthy! Freshwater Input: 1. Less SO4 2. Fe (iron) precipitates S 3. Both inorganic and organic sediment deposition FRESHWATER INPUT Peat Layer Increasing in Thickness (from deposition of leaves, etc., and growth of fine roots 2007 Lewis Environmental Services, Inc. FRESHWATER INPUT Peat Layer Increasing in Thickness (from deposition of leaves, etc., and growth of fine roots 2007 Lewis Environmental Services, Inc. Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, February 16,

11 1. Good 29News 2. Bad News 3. Good News We have the knowledge and capability to revive that historical interest in mangroves and reverse the degradation of mangroves in Florida with resources now available at FGCU, NBG and the Everglades Wetland Research Park in conjunction with the ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES TO ECOLOGICAL MANGROVE RESTORATION (EMR v. GARDENING) 1. Understand the Autecology and Community Ecology of the Local Mangroves 2. Understand the Normal Hydrology of the Local Mangroves 3. Assess Modifications to Hydrology or Added Stress? 4. Select the Restoration Site 5. Restore or Create Normal Hydrology, or Remove or Reduce Stress 6. Plant Mangroves Only As Needed SUCCESS! 1. Build a Nursery, Grow Mangroves and Plant Mangroves (GARDENING) FAILURE**#!!* 11

12 May 28, 2012 Rookery Bay Fruit Farm Creek Proposed Restoration Site January 21, = 4 Acres 2 = 50 Acres 3=103 = Acres Rookery Bay Fruit Farm Creek Proposed Restoration Site January 21, 2011 This is the result of another mangrove heart attack! One Existing Fruit Farm Creek One-Way Drainage Culvert A 4 E D C B 4acres 5 50 acres One Existing Two-Way 60" Culvert acres Mangrove Forest Management and Restoration Conventional Wisdom Growing Mangroves in a Nursery and Direct Planting or Planting Propagules as a Means of Restoration is a Key Component in Successful Mangrove Forest Management. Is This True? Aalamaram Photo, Tamil Nadu, India

13 20 Year Failed Effort To Restore Mangroves In The Philippines, USD$ 17.6 Million Spent for 44,000 Ha of Plantings From Sampson and Rollon 2008 From Sampson and Rollon 2008 ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES TO MANGROVE RESTORATION Ecological Mangrove Restoration (EMR) versus Planting Only ECOHYDROLOGY 1. Understand Autecology and Community Ecology 2. Understand Normal Hydrology 3. Assess Modifications to Hydrology or Added Stress? 4. Select the Restoration Site 5. Restore or Create Normal Hydrology, or Remove or Reduce Stress 6. Plant Mangroves Only As Needed SUCCESS! 1. Build a Nursery, Grow Mangrove Seedlings and Plant Mangroves (GARDENING) FAILURE**#!!* 29 13

14 HOBO Water Level Logger (1" X 6 ") Total Project Area (Phases 1 And 2) = 64 acres of dead mangroves and 161 acres of stressed mangroves = 225 acres Potential Phase 3 Project Area of800 Acres Large Scale Die-off Prevented (Conservation) by Phases = 1025 acres Potential Phase 3 Project Area of 800 Acres Large Scale Dieoff Could be Prevented (Conservation) by Phases

15 Ground Breaking Phase 1A February 22, 2012 Proposed Activities 1. EMR Training in Conjunction with Actual Restoration 2. Quantification of the Area of Both Obvious Mangrove Damage and Loss and Functional Loss 3. Design and Permit the Restoration Program 4. Construct the Restoration Project - Partial 5. Monitor the Restoration Project for Success 6. Find Funding for All of the Above - Needed Ground Breaking Phase 1A February 22, 2012 Preconstruction Phase 1A May 24, 2012 Construction Phase 1A September 1, 2012 Post-construction Phase 1A September 3, 2012 Restored Tidal Flows Phase 1A September 3,

16 Fruit Farm Creek Mangrove Restoration - Cost of Design, Permitting, Restoration and Monitoring TOTAL $1,950,000 Raised to date $550,000 Remaining funds needed $1.4 million Dollar Bay Are there other mangrove heart attacks in the future of SW Florida s mangroves?? 1. Good 29News 2. Bad News 3. Good News 1. We Need Your Support! 2. FCCU/EWRP/NBG/RBNERR Need to Form a Southwest Florida Coastal Ecosystem Management Consortium 3. New Funding is Needed CRG/$500k/year EWRP/$1million/year RBNERR Restore Historical Funding 16

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