CES-USGSNature's Tree Islands and Man's Vegetated Hammocks


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Educators' Guide: Nature’s Tree Islands and Man’s Vegetated Hammocks:  How Science Informs Management Decisions in the Everglades  

Overview 

This ~25-minute documentary takes you behind the scenes as scientists, engineers, and other experts work together to incorporate the latest science into the design and construction of an Everglades restoration project. Prior to drainage and development, the Everglades was a mosaic of sawgrass marsh ridges, wet prairies, and deepwater sloughs dotted with elevated tree islands that numbered in the thousands. The Central Everglades Planning Project-North is an ambitious ecological restoration project designed to restore more natural freshwater flows into and through the central and southern Everglades. As part of this project, scientists, engineers, and other experts came together to design vegetated hammocks, restored areas modeled after tree islands that will be constructed to help provide habitat for wildlife and restore a more natural flow of water. This process highlights how the latest science can be used to inform decision-making, reduce uncertainties, and improve the success of Everglades restoration.  

This video was created by Florida Atlantic University's Center for Environmental Studies and RECOVER ​ ​ , with funding and partnership from the USGS Greater Everglades Priority Ecosystem Sciences Program.

This guide provides educators with resources to help students engage with the video, including background readings, discussion questions, and critical thinking exercises. 

Suggested Lesson Plan 

Lesson Duration: 45–90 minutes 

Part 1: Pre-Viewing Discussion (15 minutes)  

Before watching the video, engage students in a brief discussion: 

  • What do you know about the Everglades ecosystem? 
  • What role do tree islands play in a wetland environment? 
  • Why would we want to restore the Everglades? 

Introduce key vocabulary: 

  • Vegetated hammocks – Elevated areas in wetlands modeled after naturally-occurring tree islands to be constructed as part of Central Everglades Planning Project-North. 
  • Tree islands – Spatially discrete patches of woody vegetation embedded in a wetland landscape of contrasting vegetation type. 
  • Ecosystem restoration – The process of assisting the recovery of a degraded or damaged ecosystem. 
  • Hydrology – The study of water movement in an environment. 

Part 2: Video Viewing (~25 minutes)  

Students will watch the video, taking notes on the scientific processes and challenges involved in the restoration project. Encourage them to jot down any questions they have during the viewing. You might also wish to print out this guided note-taking handout (coming soon!). 

Part 3: Post-Viewing Discussion & Activity (30–45 minutes)  

After the video, facilitate a discussion with the following questions: 

  • What challenges do scientists, engineers, and other experts face when designing vegetated hammocks? 
  • How do these restoration efforts contribute to the overall health of the Everglades ecosystem? 
  • What factors must scientists consider when designing and implementing restoration projects? 

Supplemental Readings 

Websites 

 Critical Thinking Questions 

  • How do vegetated hammocks function similarly to historic tree islands? What key ecological benefits do they provide? 
  • What scientific methods and planning strategies are involved in designing and implementing a restoration project like this one? 
  • How might climate change impact future restoration efforts in the Everglades? 
  • What are the potential limitations or drawbacks of artificial restoration efforts? How can scientists ensure their success over time? 
  • If you were leading this project, what additional elements would you consider to enhance its effectiveness? 

 

 


 Last Modified 3/27/25