South Florida: a laboratory for ecosystem restoration and integrated coastal management

One of the largest efforts ever undertaken to restore any coastal and marine ecosystem in the world is unfolding today in South Florida. After more than a century of major modifications to the natural systems of the region, actions are being taken at all levels of government to restore the natural resources and habitats that have been altered by human activities, primarily agriculture and urban development. While most public interest and attention have focused on restoring the terrestrial areas of `the Everglades,' more recently the scope of the problem has been enlarged to include Florida Bay and the Florida Keys. This paper describes recent efforts to restore and manage the coastal and marine areas of South Florida.