Mangrove Pruning

These Mangroves in the foreground were pruned illegally, without a permit. They used to be the same height as the ones in the background. Someone thought that they could have a much better waterfront view of Charlotte Harbor if they cut the trees to a height of six feet.

If you ever see anyone clearing Mangrove trees like this they are supposed to have a permit displayed at the site, unless they qualify for an exemption (www.dep.state.fl.us./water/wetlands/mangroves/). If you suspect illegal activity, you can report the location of the activity to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and they will initiate an investigation.

Mangroves are an important component in the Coastal ecosystem. These were Red Mangroves and they do not tolerate being trimmed off the top. A Professional Mangrove Trimmer would trim Red Mangroves from below to provide a view under the canopy of the Mangroves and in a site that has a width of more than 50' from the most leeward trunk to the most waterward trunk a general permit from the FDEP would be required.