Did you know the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) works year-round to prevent, control and manage invasive plants and animals on nearly 1.5 million acres of public land? These non-native, invasive species can destroy natural areas, damage critical habitat and out-compete native wildlife for food.
In recognition of National Invasive Species Awareness Week (February 28 to March 4), SFWMD is highlighting our continuing efforts to reduce invasive species, including the destructive Burmese python, melaleuca and Brazilian pepper. The term "invasive" is used for aggressive species that grow and reproduce rapidly, displace beneficial native species and cause major disturbance to the areas in which they are present.
Roughly 200 non-native plant and animal species are established in South Florida -- more than any other area in the United States. SFWMD continues to take aggressive action to protect District-owned land, natural areas, canals and levees from these persistent pests.
This month marks the five-year anniversary of our world-famous Python Elimination Program, which incentivizes the removal of the invasive snakes on designated lands. Since the program’s inception in March 2017, the SFWMD in partnership with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission have removed more than 7,200 Burmese pythons from the Everglades ecosystem.
Invasive plants can be just as damaging to South Florida’s ecosystems, resulting in loss of habitat, alteration of hydrology, changes in natural fire conditions and degradation of public use areas. Brazillian pepper, as well as floating and submerged aquatic vegetation, impact our restoration goals.
The District uses a variety of methods to manage public lands:
- Prescribed burns - Support the native ecology and reduce the risk of uncontrolled wildfires.
- Natural Resources Monitoring - Vegetation analyses, wildlife surveys and panoramic photo monitoring.
- Exotic Plant Control - Stopping the spread of harmful exotic plants is important to protecting our native wildlife and plant species. Integrated Pest Management, a scientifically-based approach, is used to knock back invasive plants.
The effective reduction of invasive species is an important part of the District’s mission and our continued ability to successfully restore and manage South Florida’s natural resources.
Learn more about how SFWMD is preventing, controlling and managing non-native species.