ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the results of two empirical studies focusing on the degree
to which biodiversity influences local jurisdictions in Florida to adopt high quality
environmental plans. The first case measures the amount of biodiversity within local
jurisdictions and models its impact on the quality of comprehensive plans associated
with ecosystem management. The second case uses GIS to map and measure the
policies of neighboring jurisdictions in the southern part of Florida and better
understand how biodiversity and human disturbance of critical natural resources
affects the quality of these policies.
