Jones/Hungryland - Natural Communities

Pine flatwoods, wet prairies, and freshwater marshes encompass over 90 percent of the Jones/Hungryland Wildlife and Environmental Area. The area was historically a mix of pine flatwoods interspersed with sloughs draining east toward the Loxahatchee River and the Atlantic Ocean. In many places sloughs have been channelized and diked so that what remain today are isolated cypress strands, seasonal ponds, and wet prairies. Some areas of former Everglades marsh are now wet prairie. Although relatively pristine compared with pine flatwoods in other places in south Florida, the pine flatwoods on Jones/Hungryland Wildlife and Environmental Area have deteriorated as a result of fire suppression.

Management

Removal of invasive non-native plants and prescribed burning are the two primary management focuses on the Jones/Hungryland Wildlife and Environmental Area. The major invasive plants on Hungryland are melaleuca, Australian pine, Brazilian pepper, and Lygodium. FWC is working diligently to control these invasive plants. Staff also began implementing the prescribed burn program in 2003 to reduce heavy fuel loads, lessen the chance of catastrophic wildfires, and to enhance natural communities for the benefit of wildlife.