ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the results, conclusions, and hypotheses provided in the preceding chapters are integrated into a collective technical framework and vision for ecological restoration of the Everglades. As such, this chapter serves as a discussion for the volume as a whole. A case is built for a restoration strategy by synthesizing the information from the chapters into sections that examine (1) the physical and ecological characteristics of the Everglades prior to the major management activities of this century, (2) how drainage and management have negatively impacted the ecosystem, (3) the characteristics of the system which make it necessary to design a restoration strategy aimed at a moving target, and (4) the uncertainty inherent in any ecological restoration strategy for the Everglades. Following this characteriza tion of the ecosystem, the specific restoration recommendations contained in the chapters of this volume are summarized. In conclusion, the above considerations are used as a basis to pose a set of hypotheses as guidelines for ecosystem restoration in the Everglades. This chapter has been reviewed by the senior authors of the preceding chapters in order to ensure that the conclusions and recommen dations represent a collective point of view.
