Yamato Scrub

Contained within Boca Commerce Center is the Yamato Scrub Natural Area.

On March 1, 1994, the County and the City of Boca Raton jointly purchased 10 acres of the site from Knight Investments, Inc. On February 27, 1997, the 207 acre Boca Commerce Center Associates tract was purchased jointly by the County, the City, and the State. State Preservation 2000 matching funds were provided through the Conservation and Recreation Lands program. The Yamato Scrub Natural Area is managed as part of a countywide system of natural areas, protected to maintain the diversity of biological communities and species in Palm Beach County. The site is available to local residents and organizations for environmental education, scientific research, and passive recreation such as photography, bird watching, and nature walks.

The scrub is bordered by Congress Avenue and the El Rio Canal on the west and I-95 on the east, and is bisected by Clint Moore Road. It is the largest remaining scrub tract in Southern Palm Beach County. The Yamato Scrub lies on a sandy ridge along an ancient shoreline, as do most sites that contain a Florida scrub ecosystem. The vegetation is composed mainly of sand pines, saw palmettos, dwarf oaks, and lichens. Except for a few small areas in neighboring states, Florida scrub is unique to Florida. This dry ecosystem is maintained by fire. The Yamato Scrub Natural Area also includes oak hammocks, pine flatwoods, and dry prairie. These diverse habitats support many endangered and threatened species.