The United States is full of amazing habitats for numerous animal species. There are many examples of species that have been eliminated from the American landscape for economic benefit of a few individuals. There are many examples of species hunted and in some cases eradicated, but I believe there is no example that has had as many species affected in a single area as the Florida everglades. The number of available bird species in the everglades made it an ideal location for the mass slaughter of birds for their feathers. Now, and in the future, if people wish to preserve natural spaces, we need to understand how we interact with the environment and how our actions can impact these delicate ecosystems.
Since early colonial times and even before
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This is something that we have attempted to change over time, but have not stopped. Theodore Roosevelt called for Americans to consider conservation of the environment, but focused on the conservation of resources over the conservation of ecosystems and indigenous species. (as cited in Merchant, 2012, pp. 333-334). This type of logical use conservation is typical in American history. We have had a strong history of avid hunters supporting the conservation of animals so that their species would remain available to sportsmen. One example of this is John James Audubon. Audubon was an avid hunter. He killed birds in mass numbers in his research in Florida (as cited in Merchant, 2012, pp.178-180). However the famous Audubon Society is the organization responsible for hiring and paying Guy Bradley, the first game warden in the Florida everglades (McIver, 2003). Hunters have an interest in preserving the species they desire to hunt, and in this desire they require natural ecosystems be protected. This protection of the ecosystem ensures that their valued game stays available for hunting. However, women were at the forefront of the conservation movement in many states. Carolyn Merchant describes women’s groups across the country protecting different facets of the environment. One example was the Audubon movement created in opposition to the plume industry. These movements helped create legislation that helped protect some plume birds as early as 1913. (Merchant, 2012, pp.355-363). Eventually the land that was being conserved for eventual use were slowly being transformed into protected parks that are intended to preserve the scenery and its plant and animal inhabitants for the future. The National Parks Act of 1916 was the first to establish large national parks in the United States (as cited in Merchant, 2012, pp.371-372).
Did you know it will take about $1 billion to fix the Everglades ecosystem? When foreign settlers came to the Everglades, they drained the water for farmland. As the population grew, people upset its ecosystem and it was nearly drained entirely. As the water supply lessons and more construction is done, animals’ habitats are destroyed. When the supply of the water is drained, many bad things can happen, such as the water being introduced to chemicals that could kill organisms and animals habitats are being destroyed.
The Atlantic plain slopes gently seaward from the Inland Highlands in a series of terraces, continuing far into the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico; it forms the continental shelf. The relief at the land-sea interface is so low that the boundary between them is often blurry and indistinct, especially along stretches of the Louisiana bayous and the Florida Everglades. This means that if you looked at a shaded relief map of the region without sea-level displayed it would be difficult to identify the
Over a time period of many years, the Florida Everglades have been harmed.This is due not only to the fact that the Everglades were almost entirely drained, but also the fact that extremely hazardous chemicals are being put into the Everglades. However many organizations are helping the Everglades get their water quality and pollution under control.
In 2002 President George W. Bush and Florida governor Jeb Bush at the time, signed an agreement of $8 billion for a 30-year federal plan to repair the Everglades. The agreement aimed to at least partially restore the natural flow of water through the everglades. The restoration project was handed over to the entity that was responsible for the problem in the first place: the federal government, and, in particular, the Army Corps of
Since the 1960’s and 1970’s, the public consensus for environmental concerns like in the Florida Everglades “has faded somewhat as a political issue” (Babbitt, 2007; p 44-45). However, it wasn't until 2000, the Clinton Administration signed the Everglades Restoration legislation into law. (Babbitt, 2007), (Dedekorkut, 2003). And once again political attention had been focused on the preservation of ecosystem resources concerning the Florida Everglades. Along with its polarized atmosphere, scholars have long debated the role partisan politics plays in the water resource policy for the South Florida, Everglades.
The Everglades, a vast wetlands ecosystem made up of marshes and swamps, begins at Lake Okeechobee, a large lake in the center of Florida, and ends in the Gulf of Mexico and Florida Bay. It is nearly 50 miles across and 110 miles long (Hinrichsen), and when viewed from the air, appears to be miles and miles of shallow water flowing through thick mats of grass. This perception has earned it the name “River of Grass”. Although it does flow like a river, the flow is so incredibly slow that, from a distance, it doesn’t seem to move at all.
Over the years many exotic or non-native animals have been introduced into the Florida Everglades. Many of Mickey Cray’s animals in the novel Chomp are animals not native to Florida. The vast majority of these creatures are illegally smuggled into Florida. These creatures are then introduced into the wild by irresponsible owners. They pose serious threats to the environment, damaging the natural equilibrium.
The everglades water supply is affecting the animal’s lives and its habits. Animals that live in the everglades need water to survive and it helps their home to. According to the text it says “many animals and people rely on the everglades clean water supply as their primary source of water. Since 1900, 50% of original wetland goes to farming.” The changes ensure that the everglades will soon have access to the clean water and millions inhabits to need to survive. Animals that lives in the everglades needs water like these animals; fishes, alligators, birds, and etc. what would happen if those animals didn’t have water? they would most likely die. Water is their most primary resource. More and more animals nowadays are becoming more extinct, we don’t want any more of this, animal’s helps our environment also. Let’s start thinking about helping the everglades water supply.
Through the ages people have seen the rapid decline of many different species. Unfortunately due to habitat loss, hunting, and other anthropocentric reasons the loss of wildlife is a norm in the world today. The southern region of the United States is just a remnant of the beautiful landscape that used to cover the area. One species that has seen a direct negative implication of the development in this landscape is the majestic Florida Panther. This creature has been slowly decreasing ever since the first settlers in 1539 (Silverstein et al., 1997). Throughout the 1900’s people were both encouraged, and often times paid, to hunt them (Silverstein et al., 1997). The panther is still in danger today due to the destruction of their habitat with
Maintaining ecological diversity is necessary for the survival of a biological community. In the United States, American citizens are on the verge of irrevocably damaging one of the country's most unique and diverse treasures - the Florida Everglades. This national park is now the only remaining patch of a river that used to span 120 miles from Lake Okeechobee to the Florida Bay. Dikes and levees created by the Army Corps of Engineers in the late 1940's drained this river to reduce flooding and increase useable water for the development of the region. This major diversion of water lead to a trickle down effect causing the continual decline of the environmental state of the Everglades. Since then, debates over the
Orlando Florida is known worldwide for its entertainment facilities, notably Walt Disney World, Universal Theme Park and other attractions. This paper reports on Orlando's natural environment and ecology, which doesn't get the attention and publicity that the theme parks do, but in the end these natural world places are more vital to the well being of the humans and wildlife in that area of Central Florida.
The Everglades is known for its wonderful plants, birds, and reptiles, but what if those magnificent, beautiful things were gone forever. An Endangered is a species that is, or soon may be, in danger of being gone. A threatened species is a species that is very likely to become endangered in the near future unless the species or where it lives is fully protected for its survival. Eight million people and countless species of animals that call the Everglades home. Everglades contains many endangered species including the Florida Leafwing Butterfly, Green Turtle, Leatherback Turtle, and the Miami Blue Butterfly. The manatee is even federally listed as endangered. They are trying to make laws and develop projects to protect the Everglades Endangered
Hunting and hunters are the biggest advocates for conservation. They also provide for the most finical aid of any other organization that says they sponsor the environment and wildlife. (SDGFP)(2). Such organizations are PETA and SEIRRA. These clubs think they help the animals and the environment because they do not kill them, but they actually do more damage. Their goal is to save the animals and keep the woods from being touched. They hardly give any money to the conservation groups. The reason the ecosystems have to use conservation is because we have to much human interaction with the environment, as Roger Holmes touches on in his article. Like in small communities there is a lot more wildlife human interaction because the expanding nation. The PETA and SEIRRA clubs have also done nothing for the growth of the animal populations. The hunters have given new life to many species such as; White-Tailed Deer, Canadian goose, Rocky Mountain Elk, Wild Turkey, Pronghorn Antelope, and many others.
Hunting is viewed as a sport or hobby in which the activity of hunting wild animals or game is the goal, especially for food or sport. On the other hand is Conservation, which is the action of conserving something, in particular. Preservation, protection, or restoration of the natural environment, natural ecosystems, vegetation, and wildlife are just some of the examples in which conservation is exercised. If you were ask anyone, usually you would view Hunting and Conservation as two opposites. But, some people actually view the two as hand in hand. How is hunting conservation? It’s viewed as a wildlife management tool. Hunting helps balance wildlife populations with what the land can support, limits crop damage and curtails disease outbreaks. (25 Reasons Why Hunting Is Conservation #17) Also, all together, hunters pay more than $1.6 billion a year for conservation programs. No one gives more! (25 Reasons Why Hunting Is Conservation #11) Some may ask “What are the cultural, political, and economic connection between outdoor sports like hunting and ecological conservation?” Hunting is supported and marketed by the same demographic that supports the sustainability of preserves and conservation efforts. Without organized stewardships, human environments would encroach upon animal habitats, thereby exposing populations to menace, deterioration, and decline.
Conservative leaders wanted to ensure Americans’ views of wildlife were in accordance with the sustainability of healthy wildlife population laws. Leaders such as Theodore Roosevelt, Aldo Leopold, George Bird Grinnell, and the hunters and anglers of North America came together to ensure that wildlife would belong to the people, while also not being exploited by them (R.M.E.F.). These early conservationists saw a need to preserve wildlife and their habitat located within the greater North Americas. With many species close to extinction during the late 19th century, the model provided regulations on animal populations that would protect the declining wildlife. This was the first sign of any conservation effort in our