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Florida Everglades Analysis

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This paper is going to focus on the current environmental state of the Florida Everglades. It will look into how humans have impacted and effected the Everglades, from pollutants to drainage to invasive species. I’ll also discuss how we are now trying to remedy what has happened and preserve and restore them to prevent further damage, and if conservationists are having any kind of success or not. The Everglades are a 734 square mile ecosystem at the southern tip of Florida, stretching up to nearly the city of Orlando. It is the largest remaining subtropical ecosystem in the United States, despite its dwindling condition, and it is made up of winding lakes, rivers, and wetlands. The Everglades are a truly unique environment, hosting a wide …show more content…

(“Everglades”, 2015). To assist with conversation, the Everglades have been divided by the government into two regions with two purposes. The northern area is reserved for agriculture, primarily sugarcane, and the lower portion has been turned into a historical national park (“Why Should I..”, 2013). The parts that are not included in the preservation constantly face battles against development and even more destruction; thousands of miles of the Everglades are not included in or protected by it’s natural park status. Only 22 of the 56 endangered species are protected in the national parks (Sart, 2015). …show more content…

But it doesn’t just serve as an entertainment purpose for humans, and provides inhabitants of the state with functional services. The Everglades is the primary source of water for an estimated seven million Americans, which is about one third of Florida’s population. It also helps support their economy, through tourism, agriculture, and outdoor activities, and to lose it could cause potential devastation for the people who live in the region (Graham, 2013). So, even for people who aren’t interested in preserving wildlife, it is almost undeniable that restoring the Everglades is important to humans too. In 2013, a canal project was finally successful in beginning to return water to the Florida bay, and has already started to save the wildlife and help preserve the fishing industry there (“Florida Everglades…”, 2015) The project to restore and protect this environment is going to be slow going as corporations and invasive species get in the way of progress, but we are shakily moving forward with

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