Adaptive Monitoring and Assessment for the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan

The report evaluates the plan to monitor and assess the condition of Florida's Everglades as restoration efforts proceed. The report finds that the plan is well grounded in scientific theory and principals of adaptive management. However, steps should be taken to ensure that information from those monitoring the ecology of the Everglades is readily available to those implementing the overall restoration effort. Also, the plan needs to place greater consideration on how population growth and land-use changes will affect the restoration effort and vice versa. The Everglades encompass over 46,000 square kilometers and support 6.5 million people. It has lost 85% to 95% of its wading birds and a significant number of its indigenous plants and animals, and has been infested by invasive exotic plants and mercury. Working from the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, members of a national committee have developed the monitoring and assessment tools and guidelines necessary to achieve the goals of the plan. This report describes the conditions in the Everglades, the restoration plan, the plan's adaptive management strategy, monitoring methods, data management and products, and closes with conclusions and recommendations for better feedback to those responsible planning and management. Annotation : 2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)