Council for Sustainable Florida
Press Release

Parrot Jungle & Gardens (PJG) Miami, Florida

Parrot Jungle & Gardens (PJG) is a 14-acre botanical theme park with animal shows and exhibits located in Pinecrest (south Miami-Dade). Founded in 1936, it was one of Florida's earliest attractions. Miami is a very environmentally sensitive area with an extensive coastline that is vulnerable to pollution by agricultural chemicals and municipal waste. The horticultural management of PJG will become even more critical as it moves its location this year to Watson Island, a spoils formed island between Miami and Miami Beach, surrounded by Biscayne Bay.

Fortunately, over the past few years PJG has established a model Integrated Pest Management program which has demonstrated an environmentally friendly approach that has also produced considerable cost savings. The Integrated Pest Management Program consists of a number of interrelated activities.

1. Extensive use of compost and mulch
   
   o Compost made on site has replaced the purchase of commercial potting soil in the plant nursery.
   
   o Compost is used as a horticultural top-dressing to replenish areas depleted by erosion, to add nutrients as a fertilizer amendment, and to improve the health of poor soil by aiding in the creation of a biologically active root zone.
   
   o Compost also has been proven to have fungicidal, nematicidal, and insecticidal properties to reduce chemical applications.
   
   o Mulch derived from chipping tree branches aids in soil water retention, reduces weed growth, and increases nutrients available to plants.
   
   
2. A 75 percent reduction in the last ten years of inorganic fertilizers and high nitrogen products used on the grounds.
   
   
3. Use of less water for irrigation, thereby minimizing nutrient leaching and fungal problems.
   
   
4. A proactive pruning schedule for bananas, Heliconias, and similar plants which reduces available nutrients for insect invasions, thereby reducing, or eliminating pesticide spraying for insect and mite control.
   

Horticultural staff at PJG have even found a way to reduce and nearly eradicate the pervasive German cockroach through the use of traps and non-toxic treatments following a scientific understanding of cockroach behavior and reproduction.

Contact: Jeff Shimonski
Cell: 305-206-3148
Email: jeff@tropicaldesigns.com