Isle au Haut Charette


The U.S. Man and the Biosphere Program (U.S. MAB)
Human-Dominated Systems Directorate (HDS) is con-
ducting an independent scientific study to define eco-
logical sustainability in the context of regional, water-
shed-based ecosystems, advance ecosystem management


principles, and apply them
to the South Florida
environment.

Three years of planning
and research activities in-
volving over 100 scientists
culminated in an intensive
workshop, or charette, on
the South Florida/Ever-
glades ecosystem from
June 5-16, 1994, at Isle au
Haut, Maine. The charette
participants were a broadly
diverse group of more than
40 natural and social scien-
tists with particular exper-
tise in ecosystem manage-
ment of the South Florida
environment.


The Everglades ecosystem has
become a significantly degraded
remnant of the natural ecosystem.
The dominant force causing this
degradation is the lack of adequate
quantities and timely distribution of
water to match the natural cycles of
the Everglades. We are faced not
just with endangered species but
much more critically with
endangered ecosystems.


The charette established a new model of human/envi-
ronment interactions and developed hydrological and
ecological sustainability goals for the South Florida land-
scape. Scenario-consequence analyses were used to ex-
amine a range of regional management options with re-
spect to agricultural and ecological sustainability and the
needs of urban communities. The charette reached con-
sensus on ecosystem management principles and articu-
lated a vision for a sustainable South Florida.