THE SOUTH FLORIDA ECOSYSTEM PRESERVE AT FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY: AN OVERVIEW
"Respect for the Environment"
is a fundamental value in the Mission
Statement of Florida International University, and the most visible
commitment to this goal is the South Florida Ecosystem Preserve. The
"Preserve" was established in 1978,
on a remnant of a tree island from the early Everglades wetland that predated
the campus. Drainage, particularly with the construction of the Tamiami
Canal, lowered the water levels and permitted the development of land
in the area. The campus became a municipal
airport, and the development of the FIU campus proceeded after the
airport shut down in 1966. Faculty, staff and students added to the mix
of secondary and exotic
trees in the area by planting hardwood hammock trees at the present
southern edge of the Preserve. With the additions of native
plants, the Preserve became a more attractive place for wildlife,
not only birds
and butterflies,
but vertebrate animals as well. With time, and volunteer workdays, the
extent of the plantings in the Preserve spread to its present size. The
Preserve gradually became a place of passive recreation by members of
the university community, as well as an important site for instruction
and even a resource for research.
A chickee was built in the Preserve in 1984, but burned down over a decade
later. A nature
trail was established as well. The Preserve became an example of cooperation
among the different participants in the university. A joint committee
was established to look after the Preserve in 1985 and it functioned for
about six years. Money from the Ralph Sanchez racing organization was
set aside to support an internship program to work in the program, but
that money was eventually taken away by the administration.
After 1988, pressure for development on campus became more intense, and
within the past 6 years there have been at least two efforts to construct
buildings in some part of the Preserve. But a continued commitment from
dedicated FIU personnel to fulfill the university's mission has protected
the preserve. Recently, the Faculty Senate established a standing committee,
The Environmental Preserve Committee, to look after it. That committee
proposed running a planning
charrette in 2003, at the 25th anniversary of the Preserve. Various
design and artistic competitions were held in conjunction with the charrette
and 25th anniversary picnic. Over thirty faculty, administrators and students
participated in the charrette on 12 April, also aided by landscape architects
from the Dade County Chapter of the ASLA.
Three designs were produced, with considerable agreement among them. During
the summer the designs were melded into a single master design for the
future of the Preserve, prepared by the landscape architects and which
is illustrated here. Many of the documents linked to this homepage were
prepared as background information on the charrette.
The Preserve Committee and interested faculty and students are presently
working to move this process forward: to find partners to help insure
the Preserve's future and make the master
plan a reality.
