This book provides basic information about the geology, ecology, and human use of tree islands. This information is needed to develop sound environmental policy and water management for the reservation and restoration of tree islands in the Everglades, and it provides a sound basis for tree island management and protection in the Everglades and other wetlands with tree islands throughout the world. This chapters provides a context for the rest of the book and a framework for understanding the current status of tree islands, including a consideration of their location and significance in the Everglades' landscape, theories about their origin and development, historic trends in their abundance and restoration goals for them within the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP).

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