Strengthening our Community Tree Canopy Through Education Module #11:

1. Strengthening our Community Tree Canopy Through Education Module #11: Mangrove and Sea Grape Pruning Laura Sanagorski,Environmental Horticulture Extension Faculty Bill DuMond, Palm Beach County Extension Service Program Assistant

2. Strengthening Our Community Tree Canopy 2012 Urban Forestry Series This series is a part of a project titled “Strengthening Our Community Tree Canopy Through Education”. This project is made possible by  a grant through the 2011 National Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and the Florida Forest Service.

3. Mangrove Pruning

4. Mangrove and Sea Grape PruningWhy so Important? Mangroves serve as a habitat for various species of wildlife Photo: Palm Beach County Environmental Resource Management

5. Mangrove and Sea Grape PruningWhy so Important? Mangroves stabilize shorelines and provide protection from storms Photo: Palm Beach County Environmental Resource Management

6. Mangrove and Sea Grape PruningWhy so Important? Mangroves protect water quality Photo: Florida Department of Environmental Protection

7. Mangrove and Sea Grape PruningWhy so Important? Mangroves serve as a food web support for fish Illustration: ProtectFlReefs

8. Mangrove and Sea Grape PruningWhy so Important? Because it’s the law!! 1996 Mangrove Preservation and Trimming Act Photo: University of Georgia, Bugwood.org

9. Red Mangrove Photo: Florida Department of Environmental Protection Photo: Florida Department of Environmental Protection

10. Red Mangrove • Named for color inside bark of the tree • Usually found in tidal areas • Seeds are pencil-shaped “propagules” growing to ten inches long • Known for their “prop” roots • Very sensitive to trimming, especially topping Photo: Florida Department of Environmental Protection Photo: Palm Beach County Environmental Resource Management

11. Black Mangrove Photo: Florida Department of Environmental Protection Photo: Palm Beach County Environmental Resource Management

12. Black Mangrove • Named for the dark bark of the tree • Leaves are often encrusted in salt • Conditioned for saline and basin-like areas • Seeds are smaller than red mangrove • Known for upward growing “pencil” roots • Sensitive to trimming Photo: Palm Beach County Environmental Resource Management Photo: Palm Beach County Environmental Resource Mgmt.

13. White Mangrove Photo: Florida Department of Environmental Protection

14. White Mangrove • Named for the whitish color of the bark • Leaves have sugar secreting glands at the base • No aerial root system like the other • mangroves • Generally located in higher elevations • Tolerates trimming better than the other mangroves Photo: Palm Beach County Environmental Resource Management

15. Mangrove Forest Illustration: UF / IFAS

16. 1996 Mangrove Preservation andTrimming Act Intent • Protect and preserve mangrove resources • No trimming or alteration on uninhabited islands or conservation and mitigation areas • Provide owners right of view • Encourage owners to maintain mangroves

17. 1996 Mangrove Preservation andTrimming Act Jupiter couple face $1.6 million penalty for removing protected plants Jupiter councilman suggests pursuing criminal charges against mangrove cutters Illegal mangrove cutting on Ft. Myers beach Photo: Palm Beach Post

19. 1996 Mangrove Preservation andTrimming Act Exemptions Riparian Mangrove Fringe (RMF) – Areas where mangroves along the shoreline </= 50 feet Illustration: Bill DuMond – PBC Cooperative Ext.

20. 1996 Mangrove Preservation andTrimming Act Exemptions • Mangroves may be trimmed when </= 10 feet • Mangrove trimmed to overall height >/= 6 feet • Property shoreline </= 150 feet - 65% may be trimmed • Mangroves < 10 feet being maintained or reestablished via trimming

21. 1996 Mangrove Preservation andTrimming Act Exemptions • Mangroves may be trimmed when </= 24 feet • Trees > 16 feet trimmed in stages </= 25% of foliage removed annually • Mangroves 10-24 feet being maintained or reestablished via trimming • Trimming of red mangroves for 1st time by Professional Mangrove Trimmer (PMT) must notify authorities

22. 1996 Mangrove Preservation andTrimming Act General Permit is required: • Trimming done in area where Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) hasn’t delegated authority • Trimming conducted or supervised by PMT • Mangroves extend </= 500 feet • </= 65% of mangroves > 6 feet trimmed • Trimming of mangroves to provide clearance for watercraft navigation • No herbicides or chemicals used

23. 1996 Mangrove Preservation andTrimming Act General Permit • Permit used once to trim to achieve height >/= 6 feet • Trimming done in stages so </= 25% of foliage removed annually • $250.00 permit fee

24. 1996 Mangrove Preservation andTrimming Act Individual Permit is required: • Trimming or alterations not under an exemption or a General Permit • Trimming > 500 feet from the shoreline • Where mitigation may be required • Permit fee required: 1-19 trees - $420.00 20 + trees - $830.00

25. Professional Mangrove Trimmers Photo: Florida Department of Environmental Protection Photo: Florida Department of Environmental Protection

26. Professional Mangrove Trimmers • International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborists • Certified Wetland Scientists • Environmental Professionals • Landscape Architects • Professional Mangrove Trimmer

27. Sea Grape Pruning

28. Mangrove and Sea Grape PruningWhy so Important? Sea grapes serve as a habitat for birds, lizards, gopher tortoise, butterflies, and other wildlife Photo: USDI National Park Service, Bugwood.org

29. Mangrove and Sea Grape PruningWhy so Important? Sea grapes serve as a food source for native birds, mammals, and other wildlife Photo: Starr Environmental, Bugwood.org

30. Mangrove and Sea Grape PruningWhy so Important? Sea grapes serve as a stabilizer for beaches and dunes Photo: University of Georgia, Bugwood.org Photo: USDI National Park Service, Bugwood.org

31. Mangrove and Sea Grape PruningWhy so Important? Sea grapes protect oceanfront property from erosion, sand, and salt spray Photo: Starr Environmental, Bugwood.org

32. Mangrove and Sea Grape PruningWhy so Important? Sea grapes serve as a protector to nesting sea turtles Photo: University of Georgia, Bugwood.org Photo: University of Georgia, Bugwood.org

33. Mangrove and Sea Grape PruningWhy so Important? Sea grapes serve as a barrier to artificial lighting Photo: Florida Department of Environmental Protection

34. Mangrove and Sea Grape PruningWhy so Important? Sea grapes serve as a barrier to artificial lighting Photo: Florida Department of Environmental Protection

35. Mangrove and Sea Grape PruningWhy so Important? Sea grapes serve as a barrier to artificial lighting Photo: Florida Department of Environmental Protection

36. Mangrove and Sea Grape PruningWhy so Important? Because it’s the law!! - Florida Statutes – 161.053(2)(a) - Florida Department of Environmental Protection - Federal Endangered Species Act 1973 - Florida Statutes Chapter 370.12 – Marine Turtle Protection Act Photo: Northeastern University, Bugwood.org

37. Mangrove and Sea Grape PruningWhy so Important? Department of Environmental Protection Sea Grape Pruning Guidelines • Do not trim more than 1/3 of height • Do not trim more than 1/3 of leaf area annually • Do not reduce height less than 6 feet • All sea grape seaward of the CCCL subject to permitting • Shrub trimming > 42 inches requires permit • Tree trimming < 6 feet requires permit

38. Strengthening our Community Tree Canopy Through Education Module #11: Mangrove and Sea Grape Pruning Laura Sanagorski,Environmental Horticulture Extension Faculty Bill DuMond, Palm Beach County Extension Service Program Assistant