Port Everglades has received a “Notification of Trending Towards Success” from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for its mangrove-replacement project, clearing the way for the port to proceed with its expansion programme.

Under the project, the port cultivated 16.5 acres of nursery-grown mangrove and native plants on dry land that was intended for other purposes. The notification means that the port can now excavate 8.7 acres of an existing mangrove conservation easement to expand the Southport Turning Notch.

“We worked closely with port users, the environmental community, especially the South Florida Audubon Society, and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to develop a plan for the new mangrove habitat that almost doubles the amount of mangrove conservation area in a more environmentally advantageous location within port property,” said Steven Cernak, chief executive and port director of Port Everglades. “It is a win for Port Everglades and a win for the environment.”

As part of the port’s expansion project, the turning notch will be lengthened from 900 feet to 2,400 feet and six Super-Post-Panamax cranes will be added to handle container vessels from Asia, Europe and South America.

According to the port, the new mangrove enhancement area, which contains about 70,000 Florida-native, nursery-grown mangrove and wetland plants along with transition buffer plants, creates a new habitat for aquatic species of fish and invertebrates, and a new nesting habitat for birds.

Plans are underway to transfer the ownership of this land, along with the adjacent conservation easement which measures more than 40 acres, to the State of Florida, according to Port Everglades.