Greetings Evergrene residents and property owners: At present, our preserves are heavily dominated by saw palmetto. While native to Florida, this species has become overly dense in certain areas, crowding out other beneficial native plants and creating conditions that are difficult for wildlife to thrive.
 
In particular, this dense presence of palmettos has reduced available food sources for gopher tortoises, a protected species for which these preserves were originally designated.  Gopher tortoises are herbivores, that eat low-growing plants, including a variety of grasses, broadleaf groundcovers, gopher apple, and prickly pear cactus.  These species, which need open sunlight to survive, have been on the decline in Evergrene’s preserves in recent years, as they are being increasing shaded out by the unnaturally dense canopy of pines and palmettos.
 
The slash pine/palmetto community in Florida has evolved to tolerate intermittent natural disasters, including hurricanes and fire.  The absence of these over the last 20 years at Evergrene has resulted in an accumulation of pine needle duff and dead palm and palmetto fronds, which have also increased our community’s vulnerability to wildfire.
 
To address these simultaneous challenges of decreasing biodiversity and increased fire risk, we are in the process of clearing large sections of palmetto understory. This work will allow a greater diversity of native plant species to naturally reestablish, and reduce the risk of wildfire, as recently occurred nearby at Alton.
 
Many of the palmettos will resprout from their roots, which are undisturbed by the mechanized fuel load reduction process.  There is likely a seed bank of the previously existing herbaceous vegetation that will germinate once sunlight and rain reach the sandy soils, but, if warranted , we will also consider supplementing the natural restoration process with additional native plantings to help restore a balanced and sustainable habitat.
 
As part of the work that has recently been initiated, we also plan to re-establish the trails that formerly allowed access into central areas of the preserves.
 
Based on studies that have documented the use of gopher tortoise burrow by more than 300 other animal species, they are widely recognized as a Keystone species (https://wildlifeinformer.com/keystone-species-examples/.  Tortoise burrows in our preserves have been flagged, mechanized preserve management will avoid tortoise burrows and a 25’ radius around each burrow, and our contractors are conscientiously visually searching for tortoises while the work is underway, to reduce the likelihood that this well-intentioned work will adversely affect any tortoises.  By improving the habitat for gopher tortoises and increasing plant diversity, we can improve food availability and shelter for a wider range of wildlife, including birds, insects, and other native species
 
This initiative is part of an ongoing effort by your Board of Directors, management team and our consulting ecologist to manage invasive and over-dominant plant species, conserve populations of plant species that are designated by the State of Florida as Endangered and Threatened, enhance biodiversity, and protect the long-term ecological health of our preserves—one of the features that makes our community so unique.  We planned this work for the beginning of the rainy season to encourage new growth as quickly as possible once the rains return.
 
We’ve patterned our preserve stewardship work after habitat management activities that are performed by the Florida Forest Service, the Florida Park Service, National Wildlife Refuges in Florida, Palm Beach County’s Natural Areas, and the pinelands immediately across Donald Ross Road from our north entrance, 
 
For more information, see  https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/reptiles/gopher-tortoise/
 
What you can do to help:
 
For your safety, keep clear of the equipment while it is in use in the preserves;
 
Be on the alert for tortoises that may have breached the protective tortoise fencing that encircles all of our preserves;
 
If you see a tortoise outside the preserve, notify the Clubhouse immediately, so we can ensure its safety; and
 
Be patient, and watch as our preserves regain their former health and biodiversity
 
Work has begun in the northerly preserves and is expected to be completed by mid-June.  We appreciate your understanding and support as we work to improve these natural areas, reduce our community’s vulnerability to wildfire and comply with the City of Palm Beach Gardens’ conditions of approval.