Green Industries Best Management Practices manual

MANGROVESThree species of mangroves are native to Florida: redmangrove (Rhizophora mangle), black mangrove(Avicennia germinans), and white mangrove (Lagunculariaracemosa).Red mangroves are easily identified by their “prop roots,”which are tangled, reddish, aerial roots that originatefrom the trunk and branches. Their leaves are 1 to 5 incheslong, broad and blunt on the tip, shiny deep green ontop, and paler on the underside.Black mangroves can be identified by numerous fingerlikeprojections, called pneumatophores, that protrude fromthe soil around the tree’s trunk. Black mangrove leavesare oblong, shiny green on top, and very pale on theunderside. Black mangroves are usually found at slightlyhigher elevations, upland from red mangroves.White mangroves have no visible aerial root system, as dored and black mangroves. The easiest way to identifywhite mangroves is by their leaves. These are up to 3inches long, elliptical (rounded at both ends, often with anotch at the tip), and yellowish in color, with two distinguishingglands at the base of each leaf blade where thestem begins. White mangroves are usually found at higherelevations and farther upland than either red or blackmangroves.The 1996 Mangrove Trimming and Preservation Act,Sections 403.9321-403.9333, Florida Statutes, governsthe trimming and alteration of mangroves. The FloridaDepartment of Environmental Protection (FDEP) andseveral delegated local governments implement themangrove program. Mangrove trimming and alterationThe mangrove preservation act’s major provisionsinclude the following:• The difference between “trimming” and “alteration” ofmangroves is defined.• Mangroves may not be reduced to a height below 6feet from the substrate and often may not be legallytrimmed down to 6 feet.• Mangrove roots, including aerial and prop roots (redmangroves) and pneumatophores (black mangroves),may not be trimmed.• Under certain conditions, a professional mangrovetrimmer must conduct or supervise the trimming.• Dead mangrove trees are covered by the same regulationsas living mangrove trees; contact the closestFlorida Department of Environmental Protection officefor specific information on dealing with dead mangrovetrees on your client’s property.may be done by property owners under certain exemptions,as specified in Section 403.9326, Florida Statutes.Other trimming requires the services of a professionalmangrove trimmer and may require an FDEP permit.Section 403.9329, Florida Statutes, governs who may beconsidered a professional mangrove trimmer.It is especially important that Green Industry professionalsunderstand that, under the act, homeowners and theindividuals they hire to trim their mangroves are jointlyand severally responsible for the appropriate trimmingof mangroves.All trimming should be done in a manner that doesnot result in the removal, defoliation, or death of themangroves. Red mangroves are particularly sensitive toinappropriate trimming. In general, the canopy of redmangroves should not be trimmed, and no more than25 percent of the canopy of black and white mangrovesshould be removed. Preferably, views should be obtainedby thinning the canopy, creating “windows,” and “uplifting,”compared with hedging (which can be particularlydamaging to red mangroves).• The booklet Mangrove Trimming Guidelines forHomeowners is available at FDEP’s district officesthroughout the state. You may wish to obtain severalcopies to give your clients. Before trimming mangroves,homeowners and landscapers should readthe publications cited in this section, or call theEnvironmental Resource Permitting staff at FDEP’sdistrict offices to avoid violating the mangrovepreservation act.For more information about the mangrove program, call(850) 245-8482 or go to http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/wetlands/mangroves/.DISPOSING OF LANDSCAPE MATERIALNever sweep grass clippings, leaves, or other debrisinto a storm sewer. This pollutes our waterbodies andmay, in some cases, clog the system and contribute toflooding.Be careful with yard waste! Careless disposal may spreadinvasive non-native plants to areas where they don’tbelong. Lawn and landscape maintenance involves theremoval of leaves, clippings, whole landscape plants, andeven unwanted houseplants. Given contact with soil andsufficient water, these materials may become establishedat the disposal site. Dispose of them carefully, so plantsthat are unwanted in one location don’t unintentionallybecome established elsewhere. Contact your countywaste management utility or Cooperative ExtensionService agent for information about local disposal sites inyour area that are designated for plant waste. Educateyour customers about proper plant disposal and how itenhances the protection of natural areas.Department of Environmental Protection – Revised DECEMBER 200823