Native Habitat Inventory Final Report 2004 - St. Lucie County

Despite these exceptions, most species and communities are more stable, diverse, and
persistent in large, connected natural areas rather than small and isolated remnants. These
remnants are created by the interspersion of intensive land uses with natural areas. They
have lower ecological value and have likely lost much of the function, diversity and ability to
sustain most populations.
Of the 93,385 acres of natural areas estimated to be remaining in the county in 2002, 19,271
(21%) are less than 20 acres in size and only 48,608 acres (52%) are greater than 100 acres in
size. This indicates that nearly half of the privately held natural areas in the county are
remnants and likely to have limited functionality and a decreased likelihood of long-term
viability and persistence.
Table 9. 2002 Natural Land by Polygon Acreage.
Note that these polygons may be adjacent to conservation lands or they may be in close
proximity to each other.
Number of
Polygon Size Occurrences
(29887 total)
Number of Acres
(93385 total)
Percent of total
Natural Acres in 2002
< 20 acres 3,539 19,272 21
=> 20 and 100 acres 175 48,608 52
Figure 5. 2002 Countywide Non-Public Natural Areas.
2002 Countywide Non-Public Natural Areas
Percentage of Occurences and Percent Area by Broad Acreage Size Class
90.00
80.00
82.36
70.00
Percent
60.00
50.00
40.00
52.05
Percentage of Occurences
Percentage of Acreage
30.00
27.29
20.00
10.00
20.64
13.57
0.00
0.32
< 20 acres 20 to 100 acres > 100 acres
Broad Acreage Size Class
30