By: Lexie Cardine

Historically engulfing three million acres, the Florida Everglades rank as North America’s largest subtropical wetland ecosystem. Once spanning from just south of Orlando down to Florida Bay, an abundance of creatures and plants call these lands home. With species such as the endangered Florida panther and the Atlantic bottlenose dolphin, the level of diversity within this environment is truly captivating. In fact, the Everglades are the only place in the world where alligators and crocodiles have managed to coexist.¹ Another huge part of the Everglades’ beauty comes from its distinctive habitats. Thanks to the vitalizing climate, environments such as marshes in the north and mangrove forests galore are able to flourish in this spot. All of this biodiversity woven together is what really makes the Everglades an unparalleled sight to see.

As with many of Earth’s natural wonders, humans have taken a major toll on the livelihood of the Everglades. While all of the previously mentioned remains true, the Everglades are nowhere close to what they once were. The sad reality lies in the fact that the ecosystem has declined to just barely 50% of its original size.² There are many factors at blame for this shrink; invasive species, urban development, and even agricultural efforts. An important item on this list, maybe even written in bold, is the 1948 Central and South Florida Project. In an effort to tame the watery landscape, the project solved one problem by creating another. For 15 years, more than a thousand miles of water-control structures were built to aid the booming populations of Central and South Florida.³ While successful in achieving its goal, the project put immense pressure on the Everglades. Many structures were set up to divert water flows from Lake Okeechobee. By diverting too much of the flow away from the South, the Everglades were essentially cut off from the lake, which operates as the heart of the ecosystem. Unsurprisingly, this led to an extreme degeneration of the area.

Referred to by some as the largest restoration project in human history, efforts made to revive the Everglades to their once robust state are underway. Called the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, the project hopes to “...restore, preserve, and protect the south Florida ecosystem while providing for other water-related needs of the region…”¹ While the success of restoration does involve many highly educated and/or experienced workers, any individual out there can assist the effort. Through advocacy, one small voice can be a powerful tool for change, inspiring others to feel passionate about the health of the Everglades. A large portion of the general population lacks enthusiasm for this project due to an unawareness of the significance of the Everglades. Considering that this ecosystem produces drinking water for one-third of Floridians and provides irrigation for a massive portion of the state's agriculture, the Everglades hold a great deal of importance for the nation. Truthfully, anybody out there is capable of helping this incredibly important progression, even you.