In 1984 the Commissioners of Palm Beach County unanimously accepted a proposal put forth by the Royal Palm Audubon Society and co-sponsors to develop and implement a county wide program which would preserve local, environmentally sensitive lands and establish these "wilderness parks" as natural historic sites. Rapid development within Palm Beach County had led to the destruction of the vast majority of the county's native ecosystems. The Audubon society referred to the remaining pockets of native or restorable lands, now surrounded by urban and/or agricultural development, as the "Wilderness Islands". In May of 1986, Dr. Daniel Austin, an FAU botany professor, and Dr. Grace Iverson were hired by Palm Beach County to conduct a survey and examination of the county's natural areas and create an inventory of the County's native ecosystems. The Inventory was used by county staff and advisory committees to identify the highest-quality environmentally sensitive lands that were purchased with the proceeds from voter approved bond referendums in 1991 and 1999. These properties became the foundation for the Natural Areas Program. This collection represents their research, the surveys, publicity, and administration of this project.
