WOODLANDS.

This article focuses on maintaining the diverse rare plant species and communities found in the pine rockland ecosystems of south Florida. This globally endangered ecosystem, which is characterized by a limestone substrate, shallow sandy soils, mean annual rainfall of 64 inches (163 cm), south Florida slash pine and saw palmetto, occurs on only about 2,273 acres (920 ha) outside of Everglades National Park. Land managers often use thinning as a fire surrogate, although it is extremely labor intensive and more expensive than conducting controlled burns.