The Nature Conservancy in Florida - Restoring the Land- DWP

Prescribed fire at DWP
Land stewardship, the process of long-term, science-based, land management, is a fundamental part of how the Conservancy carries out its mission.

The Importance of Wetlands

Stores floodwaters
Filters nutrients and mixes oxygen into the water.
Neutralizes impurities
Provides habitat to wildlife.

While the land served as a cattle ranch, activities such as ditching, grazing, logging, turpentine extraction and fire suppression had altered more than 4,000 acres of wetlands and surrounding uplands at The Disney Wilderness Preserve.

Simply fencing off a piece of property does not ensure the survival of the native plants and animals that live on it. Because of past human intervention, much of the land The Nature Conservancy acquires needs to be restored to its original condition or it will not fully support native species.

The Nature Conservancy launched a massive land restoration effort when it took ownership of The Disney Wilderness Preserve in 1992. With proper management, the landscape of the preserve has returned to a regime governed by the natural forces of water and fire.

Long-term management is a significant factor in ensuring the continued success of the restoration process. Regular prescribed burns, detecting and removing invasive species, and monitoring the health of species in the wetlands and uplands will all maintain the overall health of this part of Florida’s natural heritage.

Wetland Restoration

Water is returning to its rightful place on the preserve. By filling in and disabling drainage ditches used for cattle ranching, preserve stewards are restoring the hydrology to more than 4,000 acres of wetlands. Because of the preserve's location at the headwaters of the Everglades, this restoration effort is an important part of the protection of the greater Everglades ecosystem.

Upland Restoration

The Disney Wilderness Preserve is at the forefront of uplands restoration. The longleaf pine flatwoods and dry prairie restoration project, not far from the Conservation Learning Center, represents the transformation that occurs when non-native grass, such as bahia grass, is removed. Seeds of native plants are hand- and machine-collected, to be spread on the bare ground following seed bed preparation. Bluestem is the first to emerge, then wiregrass, cutthroat grass and toothache grass — attracting birds like bobolinks who migrate through the preserve twice a year. After additional wiregrass and flatwoods seed mix is harvested from other parts of the preserve and sowed in the upland restoration sites, the stage is set for a future pine savanna.

Fire's Role

Fire is an essential part of the natural communities in Florida. Due to lightning-ignited wildfires many of Florida’s plants and animals have adapted to its presence and now depend on fire. Species of native grasses, longleaf pine and Florida scrub-jays flourish in a landscape that is periodically burned with low-intensity fire. Nature Conservancy staff uses prescribed fire to mimic nature, ensuring fire’s role in sustaining the preserve’s plant communities and the wildlife they support.

The Nature Conservancy actively uses prescribed fire on the preserve to restore and maintain the health of the pine flatwoods ecosystem. Pine flatwoods cover nearly half of Florida’s natural lands and support hundreds of species. Fire is a vital ingredient for pine flatwoods and the species that depend on them to survive. Learn more about prescribed fire.

Managing Invasive Species

Non-native plants that are invasive can crowd out and eliminate native species. Removing and suppressing non-native grasses, such as cogon grass are among the greatest challenges at the preserve. Preserve staff and volunteers use tools such as prescribed fire and herbicides to remove grasses from land once used as pastures. Learn more about how The Nature Conservancy combats invasive species.