Florida International University
IN-2: Innovation 2

With its unique location between sea and sawgrass in South Florida, FIU has taken great steps to conserve and restore Florida's native habitats. Over the last 3 years great emphasis has been placed on maintaing natural areas on campus amidst the rapid growth of campus. Nature Preserve The FIU Nature Preserve is a 14-acre outdoor environmental education facility meant to advance the ecological knowledge of our student body and the community. This community forest provides excellent recreational opportunities for students, faculty, staff, and visitors. Last year a full-time staff member was hired to restore the native habitats in the preserve and create education opportunities around it. The preserve features three native South Florida ecosystems; Pine Rockland, Hardwood Hammock, and Freshwater Wetland. These habitats are home to 13 endangered plant species and 17 threatened plant species, as well as the other 452 plant and animal species we have living here. With constant growth, the protected nature preserve acts as FIU's own urban forest where the FIU community can experience nature without leaving campus. The FIU Nature Preserve is more than a protected area, it is a home to a variety of activities. Faculty and graduate students use it for research projects and also a teaching tool. There is an organic garden adjacent to the preserve that serves the needs for the Agroecology Program and the FIU Garden Club. For recreation, there are self-guided trails with educational signage through the preserve, and this Fall there will be a recycled-tire jogging trail encompassing the area. Over 1,000 students a year perform community service hours in the Nature Preserve by helping maintain trails, remove exotic species and planting native species. Mangrove Restoration Mangroves are vitally important to South Florida. Their roots serve as a source of food, shelter, and as a nursery ground for countless species of fish, crustaceans, mollusks, birds, and reptiles, including the threatened American crocodile. The roots also protect coral reefs by slowing down and catching much of the pollutants and trash that might otherwise make it out to sea. Mangroves offer valuable protection against the wind, waves, and tides which can wreak havoc in low-lying South Florida, particularly during a hurricane. The Mangrove Restoration project began in September 2009 when the cigar-shaped propagules from the Red mangroves, Rhizophora mangle, were collected as part of a Biscayne Bay beach clean-up. Led by Jennifer Grimm, the former SEAS Environmental Programs Manager, the propagules were initially placed in plastic cups with fresh water and gravel until they were established enough to be replanted. Housed at the Alonzo and Tracy Mourning Senior High greenhouse, Martin Roch, a biology/marine science high school teacher, and Jennifer Grimm have supervised as students have cared for the seedlings. First Tree Campus in Florida FIU saw an opportunity to protect and grow the tree canopy on campus. Not only does increasing the tree canopy have environmental benefits, but it also adds to the aesthetic value of FIU. In 2010, FIU became the first school in Florida to become a certified Tree Campus through the Arbor Day Foundation. This certification recognizes FIU’s Modesto Maidique Campus and Biscayne Bay Campus for using best management practices to maintain a healthy urban tree canopy. This also recognizes FIU for engaging the university community in environmental stewardship activities to educate local citizens how they can be stewards of their urban tree canopies at home too. Constituents from many different departments on campus sit on the FIU Tree Campus Committee to ensure maintenance and growth of FIU's tree canopy. Master Planning for the Environment The 2010 - 2020 FIU Master Plan has solidified FIU's commitment to protecting and growing the natural environments on campus. The Master Plan calls for continuing the Campus Green Belt along the main FIU Loop road. Native Oak trees will line the road all the way around campus providing native habitat and shade for pedestrians.

There is an existing credit that applies to the Tree Campus Certification, but we feel FIU's programs go beyond being a tree campus which is why we are submitting FIU's Mangrove Restoration Project and Nature Preserve urban forest for this innovation credit. These areas are used not only to preserve ecosystems but also for education and research activities. http://seas.fiu.edu/outreach/mangrove-restoration/ http://gogreen.fiu.edu/topics/nature-preserve/index.html