Strengthening our Community Tree Canopy Through Education Module #11:

Strengthening our Community Tree Canopy Through Education

Module #11: Mangrove and Sea Grape Pruning

Laura Sanagorski, Environmental Horticulture Extension FacultyBill DuMond, Palm Beach County Extension Service Program Assistant

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.

Mangrove Pruning

Mangrove and Sea Grape PruningWhy so Important?

Mangroves serve as a habitat for various species of wildlife

Photo: Palm Beach County Environmental Resource Management


Mangroves stabilize shorelines and provide protection from storms



Mangroves protect water quality

Photo: Florida Department of Environmental Protection


Mangroves serve as a food web support for fish

Illustration: ProtectFlReefs


Because it’s the law!!1996 Mangrove Preservation and Trimming Act

Photo: University of Georgia, Bugwood.org

Red Mangrove



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: Palm Beach County Environmental Resource

Management

Black Mangrove



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 Mgmt.


White Mangrove


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

Mangrove Forest

Illustration: UF / IFAS

1996 Mangrove Preservation andTrimming Act

• 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

Intent

1996 Mangrove Preservation andTrimming Act Jupiter couple face $1.6 million

penalty for removing protected

plantsJupiter councilman suggests

pursuing criminal charges

against mangrove cutters

Illegal m

angrove

cutti

ng on

Ft. M

yers

beach

Photo: Palm Beach Post

Mangrove Trimming

Exemptions

Individual Permit

General permit


Riparian Mangrove Fringe (RMF) – Areas where mangroves along the shoreline </= 50 feet

Exemptions

Illustration: Bill DuMond – PBC Cooperative Ext.


• 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

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

Exemptions


• 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

General Permit is required:


• Permit used once to trim to achieve height >/= 6 feet

• Trimming done in stages so </= 25% of foliage removed annually

• $250.00 permit fee

General Permit


• 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 - $420.0020 + trees - $830.00

Individual Permit is required:

Professional Mangrove Trimmers



Professional Mangrove Trimmers

• International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborists

• Certified Wetland Scientists• Environmental Professionals • Landscape Architects • Professional Mangrove Trimmer

Sea Grape Pruning


Sea grapes serve as a habitat for birds, lizards, gopher tortoise, butterflies, and other wildlife

Photo: USDI National Park Service, Bugwood.org


Sea grapes serve as a food source for native birds, mammals, and other wildlife

Photo: Starr Environmental, Bugwood.org


Sea grapes serve as a stabilizer for beaches and dunes

Photo: USDI National Park Service, Bugwood.org



Sea grapes protect oceanfront property from erosion, sand, and salt spray

Photo: Starr Environmental, Bugwood.org


Sea grapes serve as a protector to nesting sea turtles




Sea grapes serve as a barrier to artificial lighting



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


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

Strengthening our Community Tree Canopy Through Education

Module #11: Mangrove and Sea Grape Pruning

Laura Sanagorski, Environmental Horticulture Extension FacultyBill DuMond, Palm Beach County Extension Service Program Assistant

Strengthening our Community Tree Canopy Through Education Module #11:

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