Overview & Information:
Restoration of the South Florida Ecosystem
“The Everglades” is entering a critical period. Since the last Sustainable Ecosystems Institute (SEI) avian workshop in 2003, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, based on the recommendations of the previous panel, has obtained new scientific information. A key goal is incorporate the new information with current issues in order to move forward effectively.
SEI, at the request of USFWS is convening an avian/ecosystem review group that addresses the ecology and management of federally listed endangered Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow, Everglades Snail Kite, and Wood Stork, and the state listed Roseate Spoonbill, particularly in relation to Everglades restoration. The review is to aid in developing and supporting science-based approaches to address the growing number of issues that have emerged related to these four species and their management. The most critical of these concern the Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow and the Snail Kite.
The primary objectives and needs of the review are to:
- share new information and findings with the scientific community, resource managers, stakeholder, and decision / policy-makers
- obtain independent, objective evaluation of existing information and identification of information needs to support science-based decision-making
- obtain independent, science-based evaluations of management options, particularly those relating to individual species and Everglades restoration
- revisit and further develop previous workshop recommendations in light of new information obtained since previous reviews
This is a science review meeting. Our approach is to have scientists who are working in the area present their results and discuss those with the panel. Scientific discourse is a hallmark of the scientific process and an open and transparent discussion of science is a valuable way for all (including managers) to hear the findings, be able to ask questions, discuss and consider the results. We will have short presentations and focus most of the meeting on scientific discussion.
The panel will complete a report by December. Later they plan to write up their results for publication (2008).
For additional information contact Lisa Sztukowski lisa@sei.org