Audubon Signature Sanctuary
Initial development of the community included clearing 240 acres of invasive species and relocating over 2,200 trees to save them from destruction in the construction process while preserving 80 acres of upland preserves with well-established plant and animal communities. The development process also created a series of artificial wetlands for filtered runoff and water bodies for flood control.
Over 50% of Evergrene’s land area is devoted to upland preserves, landscaped buffers, common area green-space, and water bodies, including 3.2 miles of shoreline. Conservation easements protect the preserve areas from future encroachment, and 75% of the plants initially installed in the development are species native to south Florida.
The mature trees and large expanses of green space give the community a distinctive “old Florida” atmosphere. Native plants and plants known to be drought tolerant, hurricane resistant, and/or well-suited for the lot sizes and soil conditions were planted according to home styles. Most of the plants added to the common areas were plants native to South Florida. Evergrene has been recertified annually as a Signature Sanctuary Gold Community by Audubon International. This rare honor recognizes how extensively sustainable designs and construction methods were used in the development of Evergrene. For more information, see the Audubon International Fact Sheet.
It also recognizes Evergrene as a leader in management practices that maintain a clean and safe environment for people, pets, and wildlife. Both common areas and landscaped yards are managed according to a comprehensive Natural Resource Management Plan approved by Audubon International. Evergrene minimizes the use of chemicals (fertilizers and pesticides) to reduce effects on health and the environment, and all fertilizers are specially blended for effectiveness based on chemical analysis of samples of our soil. The palette of approved landscape plants was selected to reduce the need for artificial irrigation.