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In 1997, the U.S. Congress appropriated funds to establish a new Department of the Interior (DOI) Critical Ecosystem Studies Initiative (CESI) to support the south Florida ecosystem restoration initiative. CESI supports studies conducted to provide physical and biological information, simulation modeling, and planning that are critical for successful restoration.

The Superintendent of Everglades National Park, as CESI Manager, has been charged with the responsibility of administering these funds and assuring that they have been applied in an appropriate manner, yielding sound scientific results that both improve the management of DOI lands in south Florida and significantly contribute to our regional restoration program. The Executive Director of the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Force serves as the principle advisor to the CESI Manager on the program.

A CESI Coordinator assists with defining science objectives, priorities, solicitation and selection of proposals and work plans, and coordination with federal, state, and local agencies to meet the goals and objectives of the initiative.