Coastal Program
01/18/2008
The Coastal Program mission is to efficiently achieve voluntary habitat conservation, through financial and technical assistance, for the benefit of Federal trust species. The Program is organized around locally-based field coordinators who can provide a broad range of assistance to help identify and develop large-scale ecosystem-based initiatives.
We seek and promote partnerships to carry out the on-the-ground projects, and catalyze public action to implement unique, local conservation strategies. We also assist communities in conserving coastal resources through ecological restoration, technical assistance regarding lands in need of protection, and outreach and education.
Our technical assistance and conservation leadership have helped catalyze coastal restoration projects on private lands, as well as Tribal lands. The large variety of partners we work with reflects the high population density and the complexity of ownership and stewardship of the Nation's coastal areas.
South Florida Coastal Habitat Types and Restoration Challenges
Ecological communities targeted for protection and restoration activities include coastal strand, coastal tidal river or stream, cypress swamp, coastal scrub, freshwater marsh and wet prairie, mangrove swamp, salt marsh, seagrasses, and tropical hardwood hammock. The State of Florida considers each of these important habitats to be in poor and declining condition.
Threats to fish and wildlife resources and their habitats generally relate to increased agricultural, commercial, and residential development and include spatial loss of habitat, habitat fragmentation, habitat degradation, environmental contamination, absence of fire or incompatible fire regimes in fire-dependent habitats, disturbance from recreational activities, invasive fauna and flora, and excessive nutrients.
Conservation actions necessary to reduce these threats include:
Protecting and restoring habitat;
Managing native habitats appropriately;
Developing low intensity recreational areas;
Establishing wildlife corridors;
Restoring hydrology;
Providing environmental outreach and education to the public; and
Establishing partnerships and economic incentives for habitat conservation.
Strategic Planning for Habitat Conservation
In an effort to provide the biggest bang for our conservation dollars and allow the Service to complement the strategies, visions, goals, and existing conservation plans, the South Florida Native Habitats Focus Area (highlighted in the map below) was delineated as the area where we expect to spend the majority of our Federal assistance dollars over the next five years. This focus area promotes on-the ground projects that will compliment the following conservation plans:
Florida's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy
Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan
Migratory Bird Program
National Fisheries Program
National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plans
The National Park Legacy Project
In addition to financial assistance for project implementation, we also provide technical assistance for project identification, development and planning, as well as, partnership development. The success of the Program relies on building trust and credibility with our partners. We achieve this by providing accurate information and being available to assist our partners in a timely manner, by leveraging resources, and by helping implement cost shared projects. We are experienced at helping people come together to forge and implement collaborative solutions that meet local and regional needs for fish and wildlife stewardship.
Project Selection Process
Projects should:
Result in on-the ground restoration or enhancement of coastal habitats;
Improve habitat for fish and wildlife resources, including federally protected species, through restoration and enhancement;
Remove exotic vegetation and restore sites using native plant species;
Form partnerships with more than one participant; and
Leverage additional funding or other in-kind goods and/or services towards the total project cost.
Selected projects are funded from annual appropriations to the Coastal Program. Although project ideas may be developed and proposals may be submitted throughout the year, please bear in mind that our final funding allocations are typically distributed in mid-spring. Therefore, in order to be considered for funding in FY 2008, please ensure that project proposals are submitted no later than April 18, 2008. Projects will be evaluated by staff in the South Florida Ecological Services Office and those selected will enter into cooperative agreements. During the cooperative agreement process, project contacts may be asked to provide additional details of the work to be accomplished.
If you are aware of a project idea or need but are unsure of how to best develop it into a full project description, please feel free to contact the Coastal Program Coordinator for guidance (see contact information below).
Accomplishments
The Coastal Program has joined with many partners throughout south Florida to conserve fish and wildlife habitat resources. Through our partnerships, we have worked to conserve wetlands, marshes and estuaries, coral reefs, coastal scrub, and maritime hammock. The power of partnerships is demonstrated by our accomplishments.
Since 1995, the South Florida Coastal Program has:
Provided more than $3.3 million in financial assistance to 86 projects
Restored or enhanced over 12,700 acres of coastal wetlands
Restored or enhanced over 1,300 acres of coastal upland habitat
Restored or enhanced over 7 miles of dune and mangrove shoreline habitat
Leveraged Federal funds more than 4:1 through partnerships
Related Links:
USFWS Coastal Program (national)
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Coastal Barrier Resources Act Page
EPA National Estuary Program
NOAA - Coastal Zone Management
For More Information:
Contact the South Florida Coastal Program Coordinator, Debbie DeVore, at:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
South Florida Ecological Services Field Office
Attn: Debbie DeVore, Coastal Program Coordinator
1339 20th Street
Vero Beach, Florida 32960
Phone: 772-562-3909 x324
Fax: 772-562-4288
email: Debbie DeVore
|
 |
