PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS

Grasslands of the South

This project, which began in 2008, will produce a book authored by Reed Noss, “Southern Grasslands: Ecological History and Future.” This book, to be published by Island Press, will cover the natural history, biogeography, evolution, ecological and cultural history, conservation, restoration, and management of southern grasslands, savannas, barrens, and related ecosystems, which are some of the most biologically diverse in the world.

Adaptation to Sea-Level Rise in Florida

Even a 1-meter rise in sea level, which is now a conservative estimate for the year 2100, could be devastating to the human population and to nature in Florida. FICS has initiated a project to study and communicate issues related to the impacts of, and adaptation to, sea level rise in Florida. The first phase of this project included a scientific symposium, which was held January 18-20, 2010, at Archbold Biological Station. This meeting brought together scholars from several disciplines to share information on sea level rise and its impacts in Florida and to develop recommendations for further research and for changes in policy and management. Besides FICS, conference co-sponsors included The Nature Conservancy, Florida Native Plant Society, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, The Jelks Family Foundation, Disney’s Animal Programs and Environmental Initiatives, The University of Florida’s Water Institute and Land Use and Environmental Change Institute, the Hyatt and Cici Brown Endowment for Florida Archaeology at the University of Florida, and Conservation Science, Inc. Future phases of this project include technical publications, communications with policy-makers and the general public, and a larger conference focused on policy and management and involving a diversity of stakeholders and decision-makers. A special issue of the journal Climatic Change, guest-edited by Reed Noss, includes selected papers from the Archbold symposium plus some new papers. The special issue is in production and is expected to be published in 2011.

Sponsors

Future Projects

FICS continues to submit proposals for projects that fall within its mission of bringing together expert natural and social scientists from diverse sources to address urgent issues in conservation. Examples of questions we seek to address include:

1. What are the highest priority sites to conserve in Florida and elsewhere from a biological-ecological perspective? What is the most defensible design of a network of sites (e.g., size, connectivity, etc.) to conserve biodiversity in perpetuity? In particular, how should Florida’s network of existing and proposed conservation areas be modified to address the reality of rapid climate change and sea level rise?
   
2. How can transportation planning (e.g., FDOT’s “corridors”) be fully reconciled and coordinated with conservation planning?
   
3. How can Florida’s Rural Land Stewardship Program (RLSP) be improved to provide maximal and strategic protection to biodiversity and maintenance of ecological and evolutionary processes? How well have existing RLSPs met conservation objectives?
   
4. How can county comprehensive plans be improved and implemented effectively to achieve conservation objectives within counties and, collectively, across counties?