There are two main ecosystems here at PCCC, each of which is the focus of unique restoration efforts that serve the purpose of healing the landscape and revitalizing habitat for local flora and fauna.
Over the course the last several hundred years, many of the Eastern old growth forests have been clear-cut for their natural resources. Timber harvesting has allowed for the propagation of weedy and ruderal species, which grow aggressively and out-compete many of the native keystone species within an ecosystem. Meadows and prairies have given way to pasture-land for grazing inviting invasive species to flourish. Part of our work as a conservation cemetery is to restore ecosystems so that they may one day replenish these long-lost landscapes, sequestering carbon for generations to come as land protected in perpetuity. Once preliminary restoration work is complete in an area, active burials begin to take place. Once burials are complete, that land begins to heal, establishing a healthy and biodiverse landscape.
The Meadow: Upland Pine and Grassland
Home to vibrant wildflowers and verdant grasses, PCCC’s meadow ecosystem sits atop clay soils that gently roll from Cemetery Lane to the top of Heartbreak Hill. Once restored, the meadow ecosystem will most closely resemble a classification within the upland pine or grassland milieu. Meadows such as this serve as a vital habitat for a diverse host of species. The wildflowers of this landscape provide support for keystone pollinators.
As is the case with the meadow within PCCC, many of these ecosystems have been lost to largescale pasture grazing practices which introduce aggressive, nonnative grass species. Our work within the meadow focuses on establishing high-quality native groundcover characteristic of an upland ecosystem, with a particular focus on converting the groundcover from exotic pasture grasses to a diverse assemblage of native grasses and wildflowers.
In addition to the removal of invasive and ruderal species along with the reintroduction of groundcover and wildflowers, the restoration area of the meadow is the focus of prescribed burns and fire ecology efforts, which is are integral processes to the resilience and health of Florida ecosystems. Many of the species that reside in grassland and upland ecosystems are dependent on these prescribed burns in order to propagate and survive.
Within our dedicated restoration area, we continue to complete plantings of native wildflowers and groundcover species through the funding provided by the Florida Wildflower Foundation (FWF) Viva Florida grant. To find out more about FWF, click here:
The Woods: Mesic Hardwood Hammock
Moderately moist, sandy soils support a wealth of hickory, basswood, and oak trees within the mesic hardwood forest, located just East of Cemetery Lane within PCCC.
This wooded ecosystem - like many throughout the state - was once clear-cut. This left the land to be dominated by weedy species of trees such as sweetgums, laurel oaks, and water oaks. These trees grow quickly, outcompeting vital hardwood species. Dense, overgrown thickets of stunted oak trees have become common in historically disturbed ecosystems such as this one. As such, select removal of dangerous and unhealthy weedy trees within the wooded ecosystem is necessary to allow for a more biodiverse and sustainable ecosystem to thrive.
Due to diligent restoration efforts, our wooded ecosystem now breathes with new life offered by the establishing of groundcover and mid-canopy species. Among the keystone species that now thrive within the woods is the sparkleberry, a slow growing tree that offers vital food and shelter resources to local fauna through its nutrient rich berries and twisting thickets of branches.
For more information on the ecosystems of PCCC and to learn more about the natural areas of Florida, visit the Florida Natural Area Inventory (FNAI) website by clicking here:
