Isle au Haut Principles


he U.S. Man and the Biosphere Program is con-
 ducting a 5-year interdisciplinary study on
 ecosystem management for sustainability. In
June 1994 at Isle au Haut, Maine, a charette was con-
vened to apply these concepts to South Florida as a case
study. The charette concluded that what is being done
now for Everglades restoration will not achieve ecologi-
cal sustainability. A sustainable South Florida envi-
ronment is achievable only through utilizing ecosys-
tem management principles that recognize the inter-
dependency of humans and their environment. The
resulting vision for South Florida would provide for


the long-term security of
both the ecological and
agricultural systems of the
region, while supporting
the adjacent urban area.

The core of the South
Florida ecosystem is the
Everglades Biosphere Re-
serve, a treasured natural
resource of significant re-
gional, national, and inter-
national value. It is part of
a human-dominated South
Florida ecosystem, whose
ecological sustainability is
threatened by the pressures
of urban and agricultural
development.


The upland, wetland, and
coastal ecological systems that
make up the Everglades of
South Florida are unique in the
world. The people of South
Florida require the economic
support, clean water supply,
flood control, recreational
experiences, environmental
quality, and aesthetic values
that only a healthy Everglades
can provide.