UNITEDNATIONS EP

United NationsEnvironmentProgram Original: ENGLISH

Proposed areas for inclusion in the SPAW list ANNOTATED FORMAT FOR PRESENTATION REPORT FOR:

Everglades National ParkUnited States of America

Date when making the proposal : 29/8/12

CRITERIA SATISFIED : Ecological criteria Cultural and socio-economic criteriaRepresentativenessConservation valueRarityNaturalnessCritical habitatsDiversityConnectivity/coherence Resilience

ProductivityCultural and traditional useSocio-economic benefits

Documents:-EVERGLADES All Categories Certified Species List :-EVERGLADES_2012 List of Indicators :-EVERGLADES_FIKeys Currents :-EVERGLADES_NP Ecosystem Metrics Map :

The following information to list Everglades National Park is reported in the format according to the Guidelines and Criteria for the Evaluation of Protected Areas to be listed under the SPAW Protocol.(* = required information)

I. IDENTIFICATION

*a - Country:

United States of America (USA)

*b - Name of the area:

Everglades National Park

*c - Administrative region:

Southeast Region of the U.S. National Park Service

*d - Date of establishment:

December 6, 1947

*e - If different, date of legal declaration:

*f - Geographic location (include a separate annex with a geographical map as stated in the legal declaration of the area), and geographical coordinates (X,Y for the central point, WGS84, UTM projection system):

Exact location: Long. 80°20' - 81°30' W / Lat. 24°50' - 25°55' N

*g - Size (sq. km):

1,509,000 acres or 6,110 km2. The estuarine bay and marine areas constitute 2,416 km2, or approximately 40 % of Everglades National Park.

*h - Contact address (with the website address if existing):Office of the Superintendent, Everglades National Park, 40001 State Road 9336, Homestead, Florida 33034-6733 USA

www.nps.gov/ever

*i- Marine ecoregion (according to the Marine Ecoregions of the World classification):

Marine Ecoregion 70. Ecoregion: Floridian. Province: Tropical Northwestern Atlantic. Realm: Tropical Atlantic

II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Present briefly the proposed area and its principal characteristics, and specify the objectives that motivated its creation:

*Explain why the proposed area should be proposed for inclusion in the SPAW list, and according to you, the Criteria to which Criteria it conforms (Guidelines and Criteria B Paragraph 2): Everglades National Park is one of the world’s unique ecosystems. The park is located at the interface between temperate and tropical America; between land and sea; between fresh, brackish, and marine waters; between terrestrially influenced shallow embayments and deeper coastal waters of the Gulf of Mexico; and between the urban sprawl and development of greater Broward, Collier, and Miami-Dade counties (2011 population of ~ 4.1 million) and quiet wilderness. Everglades National Park protects the southern 20 percent of the original Florida Everglades. In the United States, it is the largest subtropical wilderness, the largest wilderness of any kind east of the Mississippi River, and is visited on average by one million people each year. It is the third-largest national park in the lower 48 states after Death Valley and Yellowstone. Although most U.S. national parks preserve unique geographic features, Everglades National Park was the first created to protect a fragile ecosystem. The Everglades are a network of wetlands and forests fed by a river flowing 0.25 miles (0.40 km) per day out of Lake Okeechobee, southwest into Florida Bay. From the Bay the water moves through the island passes into the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (designated a SPAW in 2010). The park is the most significant breeding ground for tropical wading birds in North America, contains the largest mangrove ecosystem in the western hemisphere, is home to 36 threatened or protected species including the Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi or Puma concolor couguar, current taxonomic status unresolved), the American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus), and the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus), and supports 350 species of birds, 300 species of fresh and saltwater fish, 40 species of mammals, and 50 species of reptiles. The majority of South Florida's fresh water, which is stored in the Biscayne Aquifer, is recharged in the park.

III. SITE DESCRIPTION EcosystemsWhen the park was established in 1947, it became the first area within the USA to protect flora and fauna native to a region as opposed to geologic scenery. The interdependent ecosystems within the park that constantly shift in size owing to the amount of water present and other environmental factors include:

I. Freshwater sloughs and marl prairiesFreshwater sloughs are perhaps the most common ecosystem associated with Everglades National Park. These drainage channels are characterized by low-lying areas covered in fresh water, flowing at an almost imperceptible 100 feet (30 m) per day. Sawgrass growing to a length of 6 feet (1.8 m) or more, and broad-leafed marsh plants, are so prominent in this region that they gave the Everglades its nickname "River of Grass". Designation of the park culminated years of considering the Everglades ecosystem as more than a "swamp". The expansive wetland provides excellent feeding locations for birds, sloughs in the Everglades attract a great variety of waders such as herons, egrets, roseate spoonbills (Platalea ajaja), ibises and brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis), as well as limpkins (Aramus guarauna) and snail kites that eat apple snails, which in turn feed on the sawgrass. The sloughs' availability of fish, amphibians, and young birds attract a variety of freshwater turtles, alligators (Alligator mississippiensis), water moccasins (Agkistrodon piscivorus conani), and eastern diamondback rattlesnakes (Crotalus adamanteus). Freshwater marl prairies are similar to sloughs, but lack the slow movement of surface water; instead, water seeps through a calcitic mud called marl. Algae and other microscopic organisms form periphyton, which attaches to limestone. When it dries it turns into a gray mud. Sawgrass and other water plants grow shorter in freshwater marl than they do in peat, the other type of soil in the Everglades which is found where water remains present longer throughout the year. Marl prairies are usually under water from three to seven months of the year, whereas sloughs may remain submerged for longer than nine months and sometimes remain under water from one year to the next. Sawgrass may dominate sloughs, creating a monoculture. Other grasses, such as muhly grass (Muhlenbergia filips) and broad-leafed water plants can be found in marl prairies. Animals living in the freshwater sloughs also inhabit in marl prairies. Marl prairies may go dry in some parts of the year; alligators play a vital role in maintaining life in remote parts of the Everglades by burrowing in the mud during the dry season, and creating pools of water where fish and amphibians survive from one year to the next. Alligator holes also attract other animals that congregate to feed on smaller prey. When the region floods again during the wet season, the fish and amphibians that were sustained in the alligator holes then repopulate freshwater marl prairies. II. Tropical hardwood hammocksHammocks are often the only dry land within the park. They rise several inches above the grass-covered river, and are dominated by diverse plant life consisting of subtropical and tropical trees, such as large southern live oaks (Quercus virginiana). Trees often form canopies under which animals thrive amongst scrub bushes of wild coffee (Psychotria), white indigoberry (Randia aculeata), poisonwood (Metopium toxiferum) and saw palmetto (Serenoa repens). The park features thousands of these tree islands amid sloughs—which often form the shape of a teardrop when seen from above (see park map) because of the slowly moving water around them—but they can also be found in pineland and mangroves. Trees in the Everglades, including wild tamarind (Lysiloma latisiliquum) and gumbo-limbo (Bursera simaruba), rarely grow higher than 50 feet (15 m) due to wind, cold weather, and lightning strikes. The plant growth around the hammock base is nearly impenetrable; however, beneath the canopy hammocks are an ideal habitat for animals. Reptiles (such as various species of

snake and anole) and amphibians (such as the American green tree frog, Hyla cinerea), find their homes in the hardwood hammocks. Birds such as barred owls (Strix varia), woodpeckers, northern cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis), and southern bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) nest in hammock trees. Mammal species living in hardwood hammocks include opossums (Didelphis virginiana), raccoons (Procyon lotor), bobcats (Lynx rufus), Everglades mink (Neovison vison), marsh rabbits (Sylvilagus palustris), white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), and the rare, critically endangered Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi). III. PinelandPineland ecosystems (or pine rocklands) are characterized by shallow, dry sandy loam over a limestone substrate covered almost exclusively by slash pines (Pinus elliottii var. densa). Trees in this ecosystem grow in solution holes, where the soft limestone has worn away and filled with soil, allowing plants to take hold. Pinelands require regular maintenance by fire to ensure their existence. South Florida slash pines are uniquely adapted to promote fire by dropping a large amount of dried pine needles and shedding dry bark. Pine cones require heat from fires to open, allowing seeds to disperse and take hold. The trunks and roots of slash pines, however, are resistant to fire. Prescribed burns in these areas take place every three to seven years; without regular fires, hardwood trees begin to grow in this region and pinelands become recategorized as mixed swamp forests. Most plants in the area bloom about 16 weeks after a fire. Nearly all pinelands have an understory of palm shrubs, and a diverse ground covering of wild herbs. Pine rocklands are considered one of the most threatened habitats in Florida; less than 4,000 acres (16 km2) of pineland exist outside the park. Within the park, 20,000 acres (81 km2) of pineland are protected. A variety of animal species meet their needs for food, shelter, nesting, and rooking in pine rocklands. Woodpeckers, eastern meadowlarks (Sturnella magna), loggerhead shrikes (Lanius ludovicianus), grackles, and northern mockingbirds (Mimus polyglottos) are commonly found in pinelands. Black bears and Florida panthers also live in this habitat. IV. Cypress and mangroveCypress trees are conifers that are adapted to live in standing fresh water. They grow in compact structures called cypress domes and in long strands over limestone. Water levels may fluctuate dramatically around cypress domes and strands, so cypresses develop "knees" that protrude from the water at high levels to provide oxygen for the root systems. Dwarf cypress trees grow in drier areas with poorer soil. Epiphytes, such as bromeliads, Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides), orchids and ferns grow on the branches and trunks of cypress trees. Everglades National Park features twenty-five species of orchids. Tall cypress trees provide excellent nesting areas for birds including wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo), ibis, herons, egrets, anhingas (Anhinga anhinga), and belted kingfishers (Megaceryle alcyon). Mammals in cypress regions include white-tailed deer, squirrels, raccoons, opossums, skunks, swamp rabbits, river otters (Lontra canadensis), and bobcats, as well as small rodents. Mangrove trees cover the coastlines of South Florida, sometimes growing inland depending on the amount of salt water present within the Everglades ecosystems. During dryer years when less fresh water flows to the coast, mangroves will appear among fresh water plants. When rain is abundant, sawgrass and other fresh water plants may be found closer to the coast. Three species of mangrove trees—red (Rhizophora mangle), black

(Avicennia germinans), and white (Laguncularia racemosa)—can be found in the Everglades. Due to their high tolerance of salt water, winds, extreme tides, high temperatures, and muddy soils, mangrove trees are uniquely adapted to extreme conditions. They act as nurseries for many marine and bird species. They are also Florida's first defense against the destructive forces of hurricanes, absorbing flood waters and preventing coastal erosion. The mangrove system in Everglades National Park is the largest continuous system of mangroves in the world. Within the Florida mangrove systems live 220 species of fish, and a variety of crabs, crayfish, shrimp, mollusks, and other invertebrates, which serve as the main source of food for many birds. Dozens of bird species use mangroves as nurseries and food stores, including pelicans, grebes, tricolored herons (Egretta tricolor), gulls, terns, hawks and kites, and arboreal birds like mangrove cuckoos (Coccyzus minor), yellow warblers (Dendroica petechia), and white-crowned pigeons (Patagioenas leucocephala). The mangroves also support 24 species of amphibians and reptiles, and 18 species of mammals, including the endangered green turtle (Chelonia mydas), Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), and West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus). V. Coastal lowlandsCoastal lowlands, or wet prairies, are salt water marshes that absorb marine water when it gets high or fresh water when rains are heavy. Floods occur during hurricane and tropical storm surges when ocean water can rise several feet over the land. Heavy wet seasons also cause floods when rain from the north flows into the Everglades. Few trees can survive in the conditions of this region, but plants—succulents like saltwort and glasswort—tolerate salt, brackish water, and desert conditions. Animal life in this zone is dependent upon the amount of water present, but commonly found animals include Cape Sable seaside sparrows (Ammodramus maritimus mirabilis), Everglades snail kites (Rostrhamus sociabilis), wood storks (Mycteria americana), eastern indigo snakes (Drymarchon couperi), and small mammals such as rats, mice, and rabbits. VI. Marine and estuarineThe largest body of water within the park is Florida Bay, which extends from the mangrove swamps of the mainland's southern tip to the Florida Keys. Over 800 square miles (2,100 km2) of marine ecosystem lies in this range. Coral, sponges, and seagrasses serve as shelter and food for crustaceans and mollusks, which in turn are the primary food source for larger marine animals. Sharks, stingrays, and barracudas also live in this ecosystem, as do larger species of fish that attract sport fishing. Pelicans, shorebirds, terns, and black skimmers (Rynchops niger) are among the birds frequenting park shorelines.*a) General features of the site

- Terrestrial surface under sovereignty, excluding wetlands (sq. km): 3,824 km2

- Wetland surface (ha): Approximately 340,815ha and includes mangroves (136,027ha), fresh water marl prairie (105,889ha), coastal marsh (23,007ha), and fresh water slough (75,892ha).- Marine surface (sq.km): 2,416 km2

b) Physical features

Everglades National Park is part of a large, interconnected freshwater system called theKissimmee-Lake Okeechobee-Everglades Watershed. This watershed covers almost 11,000 square miles in south-central Florida. Hydrology in the watershed is dominated by a dry season from December to May and a wet season from June to November when 75% of the annual precipitation falls. Rain falls across roughly 22,400 km2 in central and south Florida, which is nearly flat (there is about an inch per mile elevation change from Lake Okeechobee to Florida Bay). Historically, the Everglades system was fed by sheet flow from lakes and wetlands in the northern reaches of the watershed during seasonal rainy periods. This surface flow moved slowly south into the extensive wetlands that define the Everglades, through the “river of grass,” and on to Florida Bay or the Ten Thousand Islands. This flow was as much as 50 miles wide and ranged from 6 inches to 3 feet in depth, moving about 100 feet per day (33m) from May to October. During the wet season, the landscape was nearly covered with water. Much of the water flows through the unique ridge-and-slough habitat of south Florida. This landscape is characterized by elongated ridges and troughs of limestone and peat. Average water depth is about 1 foot (0.3m) but can be as deep as 3 feet (1m) during the rainy season. In other areas, wet season flows inundate marl prairie habitat and encroach upon pinelands, hardwood hammocks, and other tree islands. As winter approaches, water slows and then ceases form the annual dry season. Although most habitats dry completely during winter, the ridge-and slough landscape usually retains some of its water, sometimes in shallow pools and sometimes as deep pools, both of which provide valuable aquatic habitat into which many animals retreat until the next rainy season. The watershed has been highly engineered and managed for agriculture, flood control, and supplying water for a growing population. The region is now characterized by large urban centers and highly productive agricultural areas, which have been made possible by the dramatic alterations of the natural hydrology. Beginning in the 1880s, development was assisted by the large-scale drainage of wetlands, construction of channels to carry water to the population centers of the east, and flood control structures. These efforts would eventually create an extensive system of levees, canals, and water control structures. Direct effects on the park’s hydrology include disruption or elimination of overland sheet flows, changes in the location and timing of flows, and permanent flooding in some areas and permanent drainage of others. Portions of the park now flood more deeply during the rainy season and are drier during the winter. Indirect effects include land subsidence, abnormal fire patterns, and widespread changes in vegetative and animal communities. Canals can also serve as habitats and movement corridors for invasive exotic plants such as hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata) and water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) and animals like cyclids (Cichlidae) and sailfin catfish (Pterygoplichthys multiradiatus) that impact Everglades’ ecosystems.

*c) Biological features (attach in annex existing inventories of species of flora and fauna with Latin names)

A Certified Species List for All Taxonomic Categories in Everglades National Park (Aug. 8, 2012) is attached as an Annex.

- Habitats: *brief description of dominant and particular habitats (marine and terrestrial):

Florida Bay in Everglades National Park has been identified as a habitat area of particularConcern (HAPC). Mangrove-covered islands and submerged aquatic vegetation in the bay provide important habitat for many of the fisheries, such as pink shrimp, red drum, and spiny lobster. Essential fish habitat in Everglades National Park is composed of estuarine waters and substrates (mud, sand, shell, rock, and associated biological communities) and includes submerged vegetation (seagrasses and algae), marshes and mangroves, and oyster shell reefs or banks.

Some of the dominant and “essential” marine habitats in the park include:

• submerged aquatic vegetation (seagrasses)• intertidal vegetation (marshes and mangrove)• benthic algae• coral reefs• sand/shell bottoms• soft bottoms• pelagic communities, oyster reefs, and shell banks• hard bottomsThese habitats provide forage, nursing, and spawning areas for species such as shrimp, snappers, spiny lobster (Panularis argus), reef fish, and mackerels.Seagrass meadows provide substrates and environmental conditions that are essential to the feeding, spawning, and growth of several managed species. Juvenile and adult invertebrates and fishes, as well as their food sources, use seagrass beds extensively. Mangroves and marshes provide essential habitat for many managed species, serving as nursery grounds for larvae, juveniles, and adults. Mangrove habitats (particularly riverine, overwash, and fringe forests) provide shelter for larvae, juvenile, and adult fish and invertebrates. In addition, mangroves and marshes provide dissolved and particulate organic detritus to estuarine food webs. Because of this dual role as habitat and as food resource, mangroves are important exporters of material to coastal systems. Mangroves also export materials to terrestrial systems by providing shelter, foraging grounds, and nursery/rookery areas for terrestrial organisms. The root system binds sediments, thereby contributing to sedimentation and sediment stabilization. Corals and coral reefs support a wide array of corals, finfish, invertebrates, plants, and microorganisms. Hard bottoms and hard banks often have high species diversity but may lack reefbuilding (hermatypic) corals, the supporting coralline structure, or some of the associated biota. Hard bottoms are usually of low relief and on the continental shelf; many are associated with relic reefs, where the coral veneer is supported by dead corals. In deeper waters, large, elongated mounds (called deep-water banks) that are hundreds of yards in length often support a rich fauna compared with adjacent areas. Benthic algae occur in both estuarine and marine environments and are used as habitat by managed species, such as the queen conch and early stages of the spiny lobster. Threatened sea turtles use some benthic algae

species as food. Invertebrate species, including mollusks and crustaceans, inhabit this area and are eaten by various fishes. Sandshell and soft bottom habitats are common throughout Florida and the Caribbean. These habitats are characterized as being extremely dynamic. However, buffering by reefs and seagrasses allows some salt-tolerant plants to colonize the beach periphery. Birds, sea turtles, crabs, clams, worms, and urchins use the intertidal areas. The sand/mud subsystem includes all non-live bottom habitats or those with a low percent of cover (less than 10%). Sandy and mud bottom habitats are widely distributed and are found in coastal and shelf areas. These areas include inshore, sandy areas separating living reefs from turtle grass beds and shorelines, rocky bottoms near rocky shorelines, and mud substrates along mangrove shorelines. Sand/shell habitat is used for foraging by many fishes, such as mojarras, and as substrate for solitary corals. The pelagic subsystem includes the habitat of pelagic fishes. Pelagic habitat is associated with open waters beyond the direct influence of coastal systems. In general, primary productivity in this zone is low and patchily distributed, being higher in nearshore areas as opposed to offshore areas. The pelagic system is inhabited by the eggs and larval stages of many reef fishes, highly migratory fishes, and invertebrates, some of which, like the spiny lobster, are commercially important. Oyster and shell essential fish habitat is defined as the natural structures found between (intertidal) and beneath (subtidal) tide lines. These structures are composed of oyster shell, live oysters, and other organisms that are discrete. Oysters have often been described as the “keystone” species in an estuary, and they provide substantial surface area as habitat. Oyster communities are critical to a healthy ecosystem, because oyster reefs remove, via filter feeding, large amounts of particulate material from the water column and release large quantities of inorganic and organic nutrients. The oyster reef as a structure provides food and protection and contributes to critical fisheries habitat. Whereas essential fish habitat must be described and identified for each species and life, habitat areas of particular concern are identified on the basis of the condition of the habitat.

If possible detail for each habitat/ecosystem the area it covers or, if it is not known with accuracy, provide a rough estimate of the area (using an interval min<surface<max for example)

The Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Management Council identified six areas in Everglades National Park — Florida Bay; Lake Ingraham; Whitewater Bay; Cape Sable to Lostman’s River; Lostman’s River to Mormon Key; and Mormon Key, up to and beyond the park boundary, to Caxambas Pass — that contain essential fish habitat dominated by mangrove islands and mangrove forests that include marsh areas and areas of submerged aquatic vegetation (seagrass). The complex of six areas is referred to as the Florida Bay and Ten Thousand Islands area. Mangroves in these areas cover approximately 926 km2, and marsh areas cover about 664 km2. Cape Sable contains about 66% of the tidal marsh and greater than 60% of the mangroves in these areas. Submerged vegetation in the area totals nearly 661 km2, mostly within Florida Bay.

The approximate sizes and percentages of each habitat type can be found in the attached map of Everglades’ ecosystems included as an Annex.

- Flora: *brief description in a few sentences of the main plant assemblages significant or particular in the area:

Sawrass and broad-leafed marsh plants dominate the freshwater sloughs; benthic algae and other microscopic organisms that form periphyton dominate the freshwater marl prairies as does other grasses, such as muhly grass (Muhlenbergia filipes) and broad-leafed water plants; Large southern live oaks (Quercus virginiana) dominate the tropical hammocks with other trees such wild tamarind (Lysiloma latisiliquum) and gumbo-limbo (Bursera simaruba) also being present in abundance. Trees often form canopies under which animals thrive amongst scrub bushes of wild coffee (Psychotria), white indigoberry (Randia aculeata), poisonwood (Metopium toxiferum) and saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) in this area. The shallow, dry sandy loam over a limestone substrate is covered almost exclusively by slash pines (Pinus elliottii var. densa) in the pineland area. Cypress trees and three species of mangrove trees—red (Rhizophora mangle), black (Avicennia germinans), and white (Laguncularia racemosa)—can be found in the Everglades. These trees are ecologically important, providing protective habitat for a variety of species of birds and fish (within their prop roots). Few trees can survive in the conditions of the coastal lowlands, but plants—succulents like saltwort and glasswort—tolerate salt, brackish water, and desert conditions of this area. Submerged aquatic vegetation (seagrasses) such as turtle grass (Thalassia testudinum), manatee grass (syrigodium filiforme), shoal grass (Halodule wrightii), and wigeongrass (Ruppia maritima) thrive in the shallow waters of Florida Bay and are ecologically important as nursery areas for a variety of fish and invertebrates.

Where possible, provide an estimate of the population sizes for each species within the lists above.

- Fauna: *brief description in a few sentences of the main fauna populations and/or those of particular importance present (resident or migratory) in the area:

Everglades National Park contains a rich biodiversity and is home to (a) 36 threatened or protected species including the iconic Florida panther, American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus), and West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus); (b) 350 species of birds including a variety of colorful waders such as herons, egrets, roseate spoonbills (Platalea ajaja), ibises and brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis); (c) 300 species of ecologically, recreationally, and/or commercially important fresh and saltwater fish such as the yellowtail snapper (Ocyurus chrysurus), black grouper (Mycteroperca bonaci), and king mackerel (Scomberomorus caualla); (d) 40 species of mammals including the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus); (e) and 50 species of reptiles including 4 species of sea turtles. A Certified Species List for All Taxonomic Categories in Everglades National Park (Aug. 8, 2012) is attached as an annex for review.

Where possible, provide an estimate of the population sizes for each species within the lists above.

d) Human population and current activities

- Inhabitants inside the area or in the zone of potential direct impact on the protected area (permanent and seasonal number):

Everglades National Park is surrounded by Miami-Dade (~ 2.50 million residents), Broward (~ 1.75 million residents), and Collier (~ 0.32 million residents) Counties. The demands of these 4.5 million residents exert a significant impact on the resources of Everglades National Park, presumably mostly on air quality and water quantity and quality.

- *Description of population, current human uses and development:

e) Other relevant features (such as educational, scientific, research, historical or archaeological features)

The park contains numerous Visitors Centers located at the Main Entrance, Royal Palm, Gulf Coast, Ernest Coe, Flamingo, and Shark Valley that thrive on disseminating information to the visitor (http://www.everglades.national-park.com/visit.htm#vc). The South Florida Natural Resources Center (Homestead) and Florida Bay Interagency Science Center (Key Largo) undertake the scientific research and monitoring of the park and assist natural resource managers in making sound decisions based on the best available scientific information.

f)* Impacts and threats affecting the area (both within and around the area)

The list below is given only as a guide; Parties are free to report on other impacts and threats. Please be precise and, if possible, list which species and/or habitats are more particularly affected by the impacts and threats.

- Exploitation of natural resources (fishing, tourism, agriculture, forest products, others):Commercial fishing has not been permitted in the park since 1985 and commercial ventures involving forest products/logging and agriculture are not permitted inside the park. - Pressure linked with increased population and development and, if relevant, outline historic and on-going conflicts: - Threats to habitats and species (including, if necessary, a description of possible or existing invasive and/or alien species): - Pollution (solid waste, point- and non-point pollution): - Other external threats (natural and/or anthropogenic): Threats to the park and ecologyI. Alterations of the Hydrological Regime (changes in the quantity, distribution, an

timing of water flows to Everglades National Park)

Water management changes in the upstream Everglades over the last century have diverted water away from the property and eliminated much of the natural sheetflow through the Everglades. Compounding this flow diversion, water storage reservoirs or Water Conservation Areas (WCAs) were constructed in the central Everglades upstream of the Park to retain stormwater runoff. During drier periods, water deliveries to the property are limited, to meet urban and agricultural water demands. During wetter periods, excess water is rapidly discharged into the property, but it does not follow the historic eastern flow-way of Northeast Shark River Slough (NESRS), and causes flooding problems in the western marl prairies. Over time, the loss of water flow through NESRS caused the organic peat soils to oxidize, the flow-sculpted ridge and slough landscape flattened, and open water slough communities have filled in with dense sawgrass. With these habitat changes, the primary flow pathways were restricted, periphyton productivity was reduced, and freshwater fishes and macro-invertebrates became scarce. As the primary food sources were reduced, wading bird populations declined by 70 to 90%.

II. Adjacent Urban and Agricultural Growth (flood protection improvements that alter the park’s wetlands)

The headwaters of Taylor Slough are located in a poorly defined area of the eastern marl prairies (the Rocky Glades) that form the transition between the uplands along the Atlantic Coastal Ridge and the more deeply flooded ridge and slough communities of Shark River Slough. Until the early 1960’s, wet season water levels would routinely overtop the Rocky Glades and contribute additional inflows to the Taylor Slough watershed. These flows not only maintained greater water depths and longer flooding durations within the Taylor Slough wetlands, but would flow southward, providing a critical source of freshwater to central Florida Bay. As urban and agricultural development expanded westward into the marl prairies, the water management agencies received requests for improved flood protection for these low lying areas. As a result, a continuous levee and canal system was built along the eastern boundary of Everglades National Park. The levees protect the developed areas from Everglades flooding but isolated the remaining natural wetlands to the east, and the canals lowered ground water levels draining the wetlands within Everglades National Park. In response, the vegetation communities in the eastern marl prairies slowly shifted toward more drought tolerant and terrestrial species, and the aquatic animal communities experienced major reductions in their natural productivity and biological diversity. This once important wading bird dry season foraging area lost much of its ecological value, and the historic rookeries in the southern estuaries began to disappear.

III. Increased Nutrient Pollution (runoff from upstream agricultural areas that causes alterations in native flora and fauna in the park’s freshwater ecosystems)

Under natural conditions, there were minimal external sources of nutrients entering the Everglades, and the slow flow of surface water and warm sub-tropical climate provided ample opportunity for nutrient uptake and retention by the extensive wetlands. The freshwater marshes developed under conditions of extremely low phosphorus concentrations (less than 10 parts per billion [ppb] of total phosphorus [TP]) and areas

within the park that are far removed from external sources continue to show TP concentrations that are around the detection limit of 4 ppb. Phosphorus is a limiting nutrient in the Everglades and native flora and fauna are highly sensitive to elevated phosphorus levels.

Today, the Everglades have a distinct north-to-south gradient of nutrients and pollutants from the upstream agricultural areas to the relatively unimpacted park. More than 40,000 acres (16,200 ha) of Everglades wetlands, primarily north of the park, show signs of significant eutrophication, and these impacted areas are still increasing in size. Among the progressive eutrophic impacts are altered periphyton species composition followed by a complete loss of algal communities, substantially reduced water column dissolved oxygen, increased phosphorus content in the macrophytes and soil, and conversion of the prairie, sawgrass, and slough mosaic into dense stands of cattail. All of these collective changes impact the structure and function of the aquatic animal communities, reducing fish and invertebrate productivity, and contributing to a loss of wading bird foraging habitat.

IV. Impacts to the Protection and Management of Florida Bay (reduced freshwater inflows and increased nutrient loadings)

Florida Bay is a shallow marine lagoon that has an average water depth of approximately 3.0 feet (90 cm). Most of the Bay’s bottom is covered with seagrass and benthic algae, which is an important food source and habitat for a variety of marine species. The shallow depth and abundant mud banks restrict water movement and make Florida Bay highly susceptible to extreme variations in salinity that affect the productivity and ecological health of the Bay. Paleo-ecological studies have indicated that the Bay has experienced reduced freshwater inflows and higher salinities since the early 1900’s. Since the early 1950’s, the Bay has routinely become hypersaline (more saline than open ocean water) during periods of low rainfall. These persistent high salinity conditions have contributed to seagrass die-offs, recurring algal blooms, and increased water column turbidity.

V. Invasive Exotic Species, both Plant and Animal

Exotic invasive plant and animal species are a significant natural resource concern for Everglades National Park. This summary provides a history and current status of a wide range of invasive species within Everglades National Park and a quantitative assessment of a smaller subset of priority invasive species. Invasive species presence and expansion in Everglades National Park has been shown to negatively affect the Outstanding Universal Values (OUV) that justified the properties inscription on the World Heritage list of natural sites. Everglades National Park contains vast freshwater wetlands and coastal/marine ecosystems with a highly diverse mixture of temperate and tropical flora and fauna; Invasive species negatively affect the diverse mixture of temperate and tropical flora and fauna that characterize Everglades National Park. Negative effects that the Park has observed include:

a. Presence of non-native species within the native biological community. The mere presence of non-native species, especially when the link between human activities and non-native species is evident, is a negative effect with respect to management of NPS land and water, particularly the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Wilderness within the property. Federally designated wilderness is an area that is considered “untrammeled” and representative of primeval natural conditions, which by definition does not include invasive species that are introduced by man.

b. Direct negative impact on native species populations: This can occur via

predation, competition, herbivory, disease or other biological effect. This kind of effect can change the biodiversity of plant and animal communities within Everglades National Park, by reducing, eliminating and displacing populations of native species.

Non-native (exotic) plants are a significant threat to the native plant communities of Everglades National Park. Approximately 1,000 plant species have been recorded in the park. Of these, over 220 species are non-native. Because of limited funding, only a small number of these exotic plant species are targeted for treatment. The most commonly targeted invasive exotics are Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius), melaleuca (Melaleuca quinquenervia), Australian pine (Casuarina equisetifolia), seaside mahoe (Thespesia polpunea), lather leaf (Colubrina asiatica) and Old World climbing fern (Lygodium microphyllum). Estimates from 2010 digital mapping reveal that Brazilian pepper was estimated to affect 48,461 acres (19,611 hectare), melaleuca was estimated to affect 4,129 acres (1671 hectares), Australian pine approximately 794 acres (321 hectares), and lygodium is estimated to affect more than 2,006 acres (812 hectares). However, these estimates were based on aerial surveys and underestimate the actual distribution of the species monitored, since they do not capture those species that cannot be seen from the air. Overall, exotic plant species are estimated to affect approximately 200,000-300,000 acres (83,900 to 121,400 hectares) of the park, or about 15-20% of the total area of the property.

The natural areas of south Florida are threatened by a number of exotic animal species that are present on adjacent lands and in adjacent waters. Due to climate and geographic location, south Florida is a hub for importation via the pet trade, especially for exotic reptiles. The number of exotic animal species known to be established in south Florida as of 2010 can be described by taxonomic category: Amphibians 4, Fish 32, Birds 12, Reptiles 46, Mammals 17, Invertebrates 79, for a total of 190 species. The relative numbers of known established exotic animals is a function of many factors, both human-related (e.g., diversity of taxa imported for the pet trade) and ecosystem-related (e.g., the appropriateness of Everglades habitat for the different taxa). It is also a function of our knowledge of the taxa themselves, and of monitoring techniques and effort, not all of which is conducted by agency staff. For example, our knowledge of invertebrate taxa is less thorough than our knowledge of the bird, mammal and reptile taxa, partly because these higher taxa are more commonly observed by the public. g) Expected or measured trends of the impacts and threats listed above. Please explain,

to the extent possible, how the impacts and threats presented in f) are expected to evolve in the short-term and the mid-term.

Everglades National Park is a noteworthy example of viable biological processes with a variety of habitats that are a haven for rare and endangered species. The potential negative modifications to natural biological processes present in Everglades National Park, and direct effects to rare or endangered species can include: (a) modification of natural food webs; (b) negative effects on populations of keystone species; and (c) reductions in populations of rare and/or endangered species. Exotic species in Everglades National Park are affecting native animal communities as well as the biological processes that are the foundation of the second and third Outstanding Universal Values of Everglades National Park. Approximately one in five plant species found in the Park is non-native, thus altering the natural composition of the plant community present. Competition by exotic plant species displaces natives from infested areas and constitutes an alteration of the natural biological processes that are found within the native Everglades plant community. Exotic invasive pythons have altered the food web of the Everglades: this species is a top predator, and feeds on a broad variety of native species. Exotic fish species are widespread in freshwater marshes, although we have not determined that the species are negatively affecting native fish populations. Because control methods for exotic freshwater fish in the marsh are scarce or non-existent, these species may remain in the Everglades freshwater fish community for a very long time. The presence of lionfish (Pterois volitans) in Florida Bay is cause for concern: this species is also a top predator, and has been shown in other locations to have negative effects on populations of native fishes.

h) Information and knowledge available

Briefly describe what is known of the area and how well it is documented (attach a list of the main publications):

The Everglades-Florida Keys ecosystems are some of the most studied and most publicized in the world. There have been a series of Florida Bay and Adjacent Marine Systems Science conferences held throughout the years and are certainly a wealth of scientific information (http://conference.ifas.ufl.edu/FloridaBay2008/index.html). Peer reviewed publications on the Everglades’ wetlands, wildlife, and Florida Bay likely number in the hundreds over the years.

IV. ECOLOGICAL CRITERIA

Describe how the nominated site satisfies one or more of the following criteria. (Attach in Annex any relevant supporting documents.)

Representativeness - The area includes physiographic features, populations of species, habitats and ecosystem types or ecological processes that are representative of the country, region or eco-region.

As seen in the attached certified species list, the park includes many species and habitats representative of those found elsewhere in the Wider Caribbean. These include, but are not limited to, seagrass (turtle grass (Thalassia testudinum), manatee grass (syrigodium filiforme), shoal grass (Halodule wrightii), and wigeongrass (Ruppia maritima)), mangroves (red (Rhizophora mangle), black (Avicennia germinans), and white (Laguncularia racemosa)), marine reptiles (4 species of sea turtles), marine mammals (bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)), and tropical reef fish (yellowtail snapper (Ocyurus chrysurus), stoplight parrotfish (Sparisoma viride) and great barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda)) .

Conservation value - The area contributes to the conservation, including management, of the species, subspecies or populations of flora and fauna present in it, either as permanent residents, or during some life cycle stages, with the objective of preserving them as functioning members of their ecological communities, and preventing them from becoming threatened or endangered, both locally and throughout their range.

As a national park of the USA, this area exists to conserve the wetland/estuarine/marine ecosystems and the populations of flora and fauna present in them. Hunting is illegal in Everglades National Park and Federal law (36 CFR 7.45) gives the Park Superintendent the authority to regulate and/or prohibit human activities such as boating, fishing, and access to sensitive areas that would harm or interfere with ecological communities.

Rarity - The area conserves unique or rare species, habitats, or ecosystems. An area or ecosystem is rare if it is among the few of its kind in the country or Wider Caribbean region or has been seriously depleted across its range. The area may contain habitats that occur in a limited area, or rare, endemic, threatened or endangered species that are geographically restricted in their distribution.Everglades National Park and the greater Everglades ecosystem are the only places in the world where the alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) and crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) exist side by side. The Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi or Puma concolor couguar) is an endangered subspecies of cougar (Puma concolor) that lives in forests and swamps of southern Florida, including Everglades National Park. This population, the only unequivocal cougar representative in the eastern United States, currently occupies 5% of its historic range.Naturalness (Level of disturbance) - The area has to a high degree been protected from or has not been subjected to, human-induced change, and the natural environment is thus relatively free from biophysical disturbance caused by human influence.

Under the Wilderness Act of 1964, the United States Congress designated the majority of the park as a formal wilderness area in 1978. This designation affords roughly 86% of the park the highest level of legal protection possible. The Wilderness Act clearly articulates the intended purpose of designated wilderness and bestows a legal responsibility on managers to maintain the wild, primeval nature of such areas. The act identifies a suite of uses that are generally incompatible with the purposes of wilderness. Prohibited uses include (a) the landing of aircraft; (b) the use of motorized equipment or motorboats; (c) the construction or installation of structures or equipment; (d) the use of motor vehicles;

(e) the use of mechanized transport (bicycles, wheelbarrows); and (f) permanent or temporary roads. Scientific researchers working in wilderness areas are required to use only the minimum activity necessary. For example, the term “minimum activity” signifies the least intrusive tool, equipment, device, force, regulation, or practice that will achieve the project objective. When determining the minimum activity necessary, the potential disruption of wilderness resources and character is given substantially more weight than economic efficiency and convenience.

Critical habitats - The area contains populations, habitats or ecosystems that are critical to the survival and/or recovery of endangered, threatened or endemic species, or to species listed in Annex I, II or III of the Protocol.

The prop roots of the mangroves along the park’s shoreline provide substrate for encrusting organisms and protection for juvenile marine species. The abundant seagrass meadows of Florida Bay provide food and shelter for a vast number of mollusks, crustaceans, fish, and the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus). Manatees are herbivores that feed opportunistically on a wide variety of marine, estuarine, and freshwater plants, including submerged, floating, and emergent vegetation. Common forage plants include but are not limited to: cord grass, alga, turtle grass, shoal grass, manatee grass, all common throughout the park. Crustacean larvae of the Caribbean/ Florida spiny lobster (Panularis argus) settle in shallow nearshore areas among seagrass and algae beds of Florida Bay. Pink shrimp (Farfantepenaeus duorarum) spawn offshore of the Dry Tortugas to the south and the larvae migrate into Florida Bay, where they settle as juveniles before returning to offshore coral reefs later in their life cycle.

Diversity - The area contains the variety or richness of species, communities, ecosystems, landscapes, seascapes and genetic diversity necessary for its long-term viability and integrity. This criterion is especially applicable where the area provides habitat for endangered, threatened, endemic and/or migratory species, and species listed in the Annexes to the Protocol.

As cited earlier, Everglades National Park has significant species richness and is home to 36 threatened or protected species, 350 species of birds, 300 species of fresh and saltwater fish, 40 species of mammals, and 50 species of reptiles.

Connectivity/coherence -The area is adjacent to or ecologically connected to another protected area, or is within an ecological or biological corridor, and thus contributes to maintaining the ecological integrity of the Wider Caribbean region. This can apply for Protected Areas within one country or which transcend political boundaries.

Nowhere is connectivity more important and studied than in the south Florida ecosystem. As has been highlighted throughout, freshwater from Lake Okeechobee and rivers slowly flow southward through the wetlands of the Florida Everglades. This freshwater flows through the mangroves along the Everglades shoreline, forming the estuarine areas of the park’s Gulf of Mexico and Florida Bay. The water of Florida Bay flows through the passes in the Florida Keys, entering the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (a 2010

SPAW site) and presumably north in the Gulf Steam or westward to the Wider Caribbean. The quantity, quality, timing, and distribution are critical to the ecological processes of all of these areas. It is also thought that larvae originating elsewhere in the Caribbean (e.g., spiny lobster (Panularis argus) are brought to the Florida Keys and Florida Bay by currents where they begin a critical stage of their lives. Much of the restoration of the Greater Everglades is focusing on connectivity – both hydrologic flow and ecological function.

Resilience - The area contains biological components (habitats, species, populations) that have demonstrated the ability to recover from disturbances in a reasonable timeframe; or are naturally resistant to threats, such as climate change; and the protection of such areas enhances the recovery of damaged ecosystems elsewhere in the eco-region by providing a source of larvae and juveniles.Due to the park’s geographic location and climate, the threat of fires caused by lightning strikes and disturbance due to hurricanes is commonplace. The river of grass is perpetuated by fire. For thousands of years, lightning strikes ignited fires in the sawgrass prairies. Sawgrass fires actually improve the passage of water through the slough or shallow river basin, by burning back grass that would otherwise impede the vital flow of water through the Everglades. Fire not only improves habitat for wildlife by creating a mosaic pattern of vegetation, but also helps reduce large accumulation of fuels near hammocks or tree islands, which harbor a wide variety of birds and subtropical plants that are less tolerant of fire. Outlining the west coast of the Everglades are miles of mangrove forests. Interwoven within the mangrove forests are salt marshes and coastal prairies. Fires are mostly started in coastal prairies by lightning and burn hundreds of acres at a time. Because of the inaccessibility to this area, coastal prairie fires do not pose a threat to any human life or property and are permitted to burn under close monitoring. Allowing the fires to burn prevents the encroachment of mangroves and exotic plant species into the fresh water prairies, and thus maintains a diverse natural ecosystem.Hurricanes are a natural disaster that historically plays an important role in controlling evasive species and overgrowth. The most dramatic effect of the hurricanes passing through wetlands is normally major structural damage to trees caused by the strong winds. However, it has been observed that surviving trees and shrubs sprout new growth rather quickly (within a month). Historically, hurricanes appear to have little effect on wildlife in the Everglades. In the marine environment, the major effects of the hurricane are normally changes in nearshore water quality, patches of intense bottom scouring, and beach overwash. Changes in water quality in the form of increased nutrients, sedimentation, and phytoplankton blooms lead to increased turbidity and, combined with low dissolved-oxygen concentrations, can have severe effects on fish and invertebrate populations. These changes are usually short-term and populations have historically rebounded back to their baseline levels.

V. CULTURAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC CRITERIA

Productivity - The protected area helps conserve, maintain or restore natural processes

that contribute to increasing the abundance of natural resources used by humans, and consequently contribute to regional sustainable development.Everglades National Park is set aside as a permanent wilderness, and its mission is to preserve essential primitive conditions including the natural abundance, diversity, behavior, and ecological integrity of the unique flora and fauna. It is the first national park in the United States dedicated for its biologic diversity. With little direct anthropogenic stress from humans, the park contributes to maintaining and enhancing sustainable fish and wildlife of the area.

Cultural and traditional use - The protected area has a special value in a regional context for the conservation, maintenance or restoration of the productivity and biological integrity of natural resources that provide for sustainable traditional or cultural activities, such as those of indigenous communities.

On January 11, 1962, the U.S. Secretary of the Interior approved the Miccosukee Constitution and the Tribe was officially recognized as the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida. This legally established the Miccosukees’ tribal existence and their sovereign, domestic dependent nation status with the United States Government. The Miccosukee Tribe of Indians is a federally recognized Indian Tribe that resides in the historic Florida Everglades. In their own Miccosukee language, the Tribe uses the word “Kahayatle” to refer to the shimmering waters of the Everglades. The Miccosukee Tribe once occupied a reservation of approximately 100,000 acres of land within what is now Everglades National Park. The Tamiami Trail Reservation Area, which consists of four parcels of land, is located 64 km. west of Miami and is presently the site of most Tribal operations. The Tamiami Trail Reservation is also the center of the Miccosukee Indian population. The first parcel is 33.3 acres and is under a 50-year use permit from the National Park Service, which expires on January 24, 2014. The Tribe is allowed to use this land for the purpose of hunting, fishing, frogging, and subsistence agriculture to carry on the traditional Miccosukee way of life.

Socio-economic benefits - The protected area has special value in a regional context for the conservation, maintenance or restoration of the productivity and biological integrity of natural resources that provide for economic or social benefits of user groups such as subsistence fishermen and rural communities, or economic sectors such as tourism.

The Everglades wetlands and downstream estuarine Florida Bay contributes significantly to the outdoor recreational lifestyle of south Florida and the Florida Keys. Ecotourism in the form of boating, wildlife viewing, and recreational fishing are extremely important to the economic engine of this area. Fishermen traveling to the Everglades to fish contribute to the Florida economy by hiring independent guides and purchasing lodging, meals, equipment, supplies, transportation, and other items in the retail sector. The Everglades Foundation/Bonefish and Tarpon Trust surveyed many anglers in the area and found that generally expenditures attributable to freshwater fishing in the Everglades Region were $205.9 million USD. This was about 14% of all freshwater fishing expenditures made in the State of Florida. Trip expenditures made by Everglades saltwater anglers were nearly three times greater than those made by freshwater anglers. Saltwater trip-related expenditures exceeded $312 million USD. Details of the economic impact of this area can be found at

http://everglades.3cdn.net/704e4f6cc378aa765d_2ym6bi7f6.pdf.

VI. MANAGEMENT a) *Legal and policy framework (international, national, regional, and local level; attach in Annex a copy of original texts, and indicate, is possible, the IUCN status):

b) Management structure, authority;

The Organic Act of 1916 (http://www.nps.gov/protect/) not only established the National Park Service, but also described the basic objectives of the Service in managing individual park units. The preservation objectives were interpreted to mean that humans should not interfere with these land areas.

c) *Functional management body (with the authority and means to implement the framework); There are many legal instruments that have been passed over the years to protect and restore the Everglades ecosystem. Over the last 20 years or so, these include but are not limited to (1) the Florida legislature passed the Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) Act, creating the first cleanup plan for the Everglades; (2) President Bush signed into law the Everglades National Park Protection and Expansion Act of 1989 (Public Law 101-229), authorizing the addition of 107,000 acres of the east Everglades to the park. The Act also directed the Corps "to construct modifications to the Central and Southern Florida Project to improve water deliveries into the park and shall, to the extent practicable, take steps to restore the natural hydrological conditions within the park"; (3) The Florida Preservation 2000 Act established a coordinated land acquisition program to protect the integrity of ecological systems and to provide multiple benefits, including the preservation of fish and wildlife habitat, recreation space, and water recharge areas; (4) The Florida Legislature passed the Everglades Forever Act, calling for the restoration and protection of the Everglades. Part of the law mandated construction of Stormwater Treatment Areas (STAs) to improve water quality in the Everglades; (5) President Clinton authorized the Water Resource Development Act of 2000; committing a multibillion dollar budget to comprehensive Everglades restoration; (6) Florida's Governor Jeb Bush signs the Everglades Investment Act, committing the state to 50% of Everglades restoration costs; (7) The U. S. Congress passed Restoring the Everglades, an American Legacy (REAL) Act (S. 2797), authorizing and initiating funding for the $7.8 billion Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) developed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; and (8) President George Bush and Florida Governor Jeb Bush signed an agreement providing for Everglades restoration at a cost of $7.8 billion USD. The cost will be shared by the federal and state government.The Superintendent of Everglades National Park and the U.S. National Park Service have used these authorities and means to implement a variety of projects with the aim of restoring the Everglades ecosystem and protecting its flora and fauna.d) *Objectives (clarify whether prioritized or of equal importance);

The purpose of the park as interpreted from the enabling legislation is that Everglades National Park is a public Park for the benefit of the people. It is set aside as a permanent wilderness, preserving essential primitive conditions including the natural abundance, diversity, behavior, and ecological integrity of the unique flora and fauna.

e) *Brief description of management plan (attach in Annex a copy of the plan);

The Everglades National Park General Management Plan (GMP) was completed in 1979. (http://www.nps.gov/ever/parkmgmt/upload/1979%20EVER%20Master%20Plan.PDF). The park is currently engaged in a planning process to update the GMP that will guide park management for the next 20 years. The park anticipates release of the Draft GMP for public review and comment in 2013. The Final GMP is expected to be completed in 2014 (www.nps.gov/ever/parkmgmt/ever-general-management-plan.htm).

f) Clarify if some species/habitats listed in section III/c are the subject of more management/recovery/protection measures than others;

Some of the “special” protection measures in place at the park include those for:

• Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow - (Ammodramus maritimus mirabilis) - a Biological Opinion in 1996 affected the hydrology of the park since that time as the management of fire and water delivery is essential to the breeding success of this species;

• American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) – habitat suitability for this species is incorporated into all appropriate park projects and ecosystem-level restoration projects;

• Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi or Puma concolor couguar) – current protective measures are continually reviewed from the results of tracking this species by the State of Florida and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service;

• West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus) – since this species is negatively affected by boating, the park (and State of Florida) have implemented internal regulations that manage boat speeds (e.g., “no wake” zones) in some areas

g) Describe how the protected area is integrated within the country’s larger planning framework (if applicable);

It is important to note that the park serves as a member of a network for other protected areas; as a stopover for migrating birds, for example, and as a nursery for marine fish and invertebrates during a critical part of their life. Parks within the USA provide the protection that many species need to breed, feed, seek refuge, and rebuild their populations.

h) Zoning, if applicable, and the basic regulations applied to the zones (attach in Annex a copy of the zoning map);

Boat speed restrictive zones are in place in order to protect the endangered West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus) (http://myfwc.com/manatee/data/Collier/collaw-sht8.pdf).

Other special regulations or restrictive zones may be put in place at any time in order to fulfill the park’s mission of protecting the natural processes of the ecosystem. Many cities and towns adjacent to the park have zoning plans in place to be sensitive to reducing and/or eliminating potential impacts to the park’s resources.

i) * Enforcement measures and policies;

The park has a professional law enforcement division who enforces the laws and regulations of the nation, state, and park. Furthermore, law enforcement personnel from adjacent Biscayne National Park and the Florida Keys National Marine sanctuary (a SPAW designated site) contribute to enforcing the laws and policies of the area.

j) * International status and dates of designation (e.g. Biosphere Reserve, Ramsar Site, Significant Bird Area, etc.);

Everglades National Park has been declared an International Biosphere Reserve (1976), a World Heritage Site (1979), a World Heritage Site in Danger (2010) and a Wetland of International Importance (1987), one of only three locations in the world to appear on all three lists.

k) The site’s contribution to local sustainable development measures or related plans;

Many of the cities and towns of south Florida and the Florida Keys are sensitive to any adverse impacts, either direct or indirect, to the park’s physical and biological resources. These sensitivities can be found in the individual entities growth and zoning plans.

l) Available management resources for the area

- Human resources (total number, with details: staff, volunteers, partners):

The latest figures available show that there are 235 employees of the park, generally broken down into the Superintendent’s Office including Park Planning and Compliance, (14), Administration and Budget (19), Science (50), Facility Management and Maintenance (51), Interpretation and Education (39), Law Enforcement (37), and Fire Management and Education (25).

- Physical resources (equipment, infrastructure):

The Division of Facility Management at Everglades National Park is responsible for the condition and operation of the equipment and infrastructure of the park. These include:approximately 131 km. of surfaced roads, 250 km. of trails (including canoe trails), 8 km. of surface trails, and 5 km. of elevated boardwalk trails; responsibilities also include 2 campgrounds (Long Pine Key, 108 sites and Flamingo, 235 drive-in and 60 walk-in tent sites); 48 designated backcountry campsites (accessible by boat); 280 buildings (4 visitor centers, park headquarters, maintenance and utility buildings, research facilities, and two environmental education centers). The Division operates two central wastewater

treatment plants, 14 water treatment systems; maintains a four-park radio communications network and over 180 vehicles, boats and special purpose equipment. Also included are fee collection stations and 3 areas of concessions assigned assets (at Flamingo, Shark Valley and Everglades City):

In addition, the Division provides architectural and engineering design services for new construction and rehabilitation of existing facilities for both Everglades and Dry Tortugas National Parks. This Branch is supported by two facility management systems analysts who develop asset documentation to assist in determining work priorities and to support funding requests.

- Financial resources and sources of funding (present and additional or expected in the future, and give annual budget)

The most current annual budget allocated from the United States Congress for Everglades National Park is approximately $16.7 million USD.

*Conclusion: Describe how the management framework outlined above is adequate to achieve the ecological and socio-economic objectives that were established for the site.

VII. MONITORING AND EVALUATION *In general, describe how the nominated site addresses monitoring and evaluation:

South Florida Natural Resources Center (www.nps.gov/ever/naturescience/sfnrc.htm) and Florida Bay Interagency Science Center (http://keysnews.com/node/20900) are the scientific arms of the greater Everglades National Park/Florida Bay ecosystems and are staffed by approximately 50 professional hydrologists, oceanographers, wildlife biologists, marine biologists, and computer specialists. These entities undertake systematic research and monitoring of the physical and biological resources of the Everglades and Florida Bay ecosystems.

*What indicators are used to evaluate management effectiveness and conservation success? In particular, what indicators are used to evaluate the impact of conservation measures on the status of species populations, habitats and ecological processes, within the protected area and its surroundings:

An Everglades Desired State of Conservation List of Indicators for the freshwater and estuarine ecosystems of Everglades National Park has been developed and is attached as an Annex of this report. These include but are not limited to:Indicator 4: Freshwater Fish and Aquatic InvertebratesThe abundance of native fish and aquatic invertebrates is increased to levels that approximate those of pre-drainage conditions. Goal is a measurable positive trend.

Indicator 9: Seagrasses in Florida Bay

A positive trend in community composition of submerged aquatic vegetation in Florida Bay is demonstrated.

Indicator 10: Estuarine fish and invertebrates A positive trend in the abundance and biomass of spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus) and pink shrimp (Farfantepenaeus duorarum) in the southern coastal ecosystems is demonstrated.

What indicators are used to evaluate the impact of the management plan on the local communities:

VIII. STAKEHOLDERS *Describe how the nominated site involves stakeholders and local communities in designation and management, and specify specific coordination measures or mechanisms currently in place.

The General Management Plan currently being developed that will help drive park management for the next 20 years is advertised to the public via electronic (e.g., internet) and printed media (e.g., newspapers) and open scoping meetings are being held. Comments are welcomed by the public and the park responds to these comments.

National Park Foundation, 1201 Eye Street, NW, Suite 550B, Washington, DC 20005www.nationalparks.orgEverglades Foundation, 18001 Old Cutler Road, Suite 625, Palmetto Bay, Florida 33157 info@evergladesfoundation.orgIX. IMPLEMENTATION MECHANISM

*Describe the mechanisms and programmes that are in place in regard to each of the following management tools in the nominated site (fill only the fields that are relevant for your site):

a) Public awareness, education, and information dissemination programmes: One of the strengths of the National Park System of the USA is the many outreach, education, and interpretive programs offered. Visitors can learn about the history and ecology of the park by attending the many educational programs offered by Interpretative Rangers (http://www.nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/rangerprograms.htm) and at the park’s Visitor Centers (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/31/Everglades_National_Park_map_2005.11.png).

b) Capacity building of staff and management:

Park staff is well integrated into national, regional, and local government and non-governmental organizations and participate in interagency working groups and

collaborative programs, both inside and outside of the park.

c) Research, data storage, and analysis:

South Florida Natural Resources Center (www.nps.gov/ever/naturescience/sfnrc.htm) and Florida Bay Interagency Science Center (http://keysnews.com/node/20900) are the scientific arms of the greater Everglades National Park/Florida Bay ecosystems and are staffed by approximately 50 professional hydrologists, oceanographers, wildlife biologists, marine biologists, and computer specialists.

d) Surveillance and enforcement:

Everglades National Park currently has 37 professional law enforcement personnel on staff. In addition, nearby Biscayne National Park and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary have professional law enforcement personnel on staff to assist in surveillance and enforcement of the regulations of the entire area.

e) Participation of exterior users:

The park regularly works with educators, researchers, interagency scientists, universities, non-profit organizations, zoos, museums, and aquariums in articulating the park’s critical mission and importance.

f) Alternative and sustainable livelihoods:

Tour guides and guide fishermen are allowed by permit to commercially conduct several activities inside the park.

g) Adaptive management:

Park management is a truly adaptive process and these discussions can be found in past and present General Management Plans.

X. OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION

CONTACT ADDRESSES

Preparer:

Dr. Robert J. BrockMarine BiologistNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)NOAA National Marine Protected Areas Center1315 East-West HighwaySilver Spring, Maryland 20910-3282 USA

Robert.Brock@noaa.gov

SIGNATURE (S) AND DATE On behalf of the State(s) Party/Parties making the proposal.

DOCUMENTS Annexed-EVERGLADES All Categories Certified Species List :http://www.car-spaw-rac.org/IMG/xls/EVERGLADES_All_Categories_Certified_Species_List.xls-EVERGLADES_2012 List of Indicators :http://www.car-spaw-rac.org/IMG/odt/EVERGLADES_2012_List_of_Indicators.odt-EVERGLADES_FIKeys Currents :http://www.car-spaw-rac.org/IMG/jpg/EVERGLADES_FIKeys_Currents.jpg-EVERGLADES_NP Ecosystem Metrics Map : http://www.car-spaw-rac.org/IMG/pdf/EVERGLADES_NP_Ecosystem_Metrics_Map.pdf