In a vanishing world...
The trend continues but
recent efforts to preserve remnants of Florida scrub have
resulted in a few scrub sanctuaries. The Nature
Conservancy has established a half dozen scrub preserves
on the Lake Wales Ridge.
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Copyright 1997-2001 |
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The ancient scrub of the Lake
Wales Ridge has been reduced from over 80,000 acres a
hundred years ago to less than 25,000 acres today. Citrus
groves and subdivisions have replaced rosemary balds and
scrub jays. 
Florida's Conservation and
Recreational Lands (Preservation 2000) program is
currently buying Florida scrub for protection. The US
Fish and Wildlife Service has recently begun purchasing
remnants of ancient Lake Wales Ridge scrub around Sebring
and Avon Park for a new national wildlife refuge, the
nation's first ever dedicated primarily to plant
conservation. 
Once acquired, the scrub
preserves have to be managed. Since many are surrounded
by roads, subdivisions or agricultural lands, managers
cannot depend on natural lightning-set fires to reach the
scrub. Without periodic fires, the scrub oaks grow into
trees, and the unique scrub plants and animals are shaded
out as in this photo. Prescribed fires, set by trained
land managers, are necessary, but often resisted by
neighbors. 
