Coastal Xeric Scrub Communities of the Treasure Coast Region, Florida: A Summary of their Distribution and Ecology, with Guidelines for their Preservation and Management

Fernald, Raymond

In his report on Florida dunes and scrub, Kurz ( 1942) wrote: "While there is yet a choice of selection, large coastal parks should be established in order to preserve as samples for all time some of the very kind of primeval beauty and things of nature that have helped to make Florida." Unfortunately, his vision into the future was not quite equal to his concern, as illustrated by the following statement made a few paragraphs later: "A special plea for the conservation of scrubs seems superfluous. Remoteness from and disrelation to salt water surf as well as undesirability for cultivation constitutes ample protection." Scrubs and scrubby flatwoods, as defined in this report, are found almost exclusively in Florida (Figure 1). Historically, they formed a virtually continuous zone along the Atlantic Coastal Ridge throughout the Treasure Coast Region which includes Indian River, Saint Lucie, Martin, and Palm Beach counties (Figure 2 ). During the last century this habitat corridor has been radically fragmented such that these communities now persist as islands surrounded by developed or disturbed lands. In the Treasure Coast Region, they constitute truly endangered upland habitats. Human activities are singularly responsible for the decline of these communities. Because scrubs and associated xeric habitats occupy the highest coastal ridges, railroad and highway construction historically displaced them first, and predisposed adjacent areas to subsequent development. Residential and agricultural development has exerted the most unrelenting pressure. Off-road vehicle use, illegal dumping, sand mining, drainage practices, exotic species, and disruption of the natural fire regime comprise other significant threats attributable to modern man. Consequently, there is very little unthreatened scrub or scrubby flatwoods habitat in the region, except for existing preserves at Jonathan Dickinson State Park, Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge, Savannahs State Preserve, and the Loxahatchee Wild and Scenic River corridor. These preserves aside, most of the region's remaining scrub habitat consists of semi natural tracts of undeveloped land along the Atlantic Coastal Ridge, small tracts in utility rights-of-way, vestiges of the native community left as "natural areas" within major developments, and smaller knolls or ridges along major river corridors or in broad flatwoods. Along the Atlantic Coastal Ridge, nearly all of the significant privately owned scrub tracts are currently proposed for development or are for sale. This report provides recommendations for preserving and managing what remains of these natural resources. Major sections pertain to description of scrub communities, criteria for nature preserve selection, scrub distribution and endangerment, and options for scrub preservation and management. The central theme is establishment of a Regional Scrub Preserve System, for only by preserving significant tracts of scrub can these resources be managed as natural communities. The other pivotal issue concerns local and regional accountability. State and federal government can contribute significantly, but they have neither the resources nor the authority to implement a comprehensive scrub management program. Responsibility for implementation of these guidelines must be borne by area residents and elected officials.