Living Green
The Everglades . . . a Wetland of International Importance
By Bryan Hayes
Do you ever wonder about all of the nuances in our daily life that pass us by without us even noticing half the time? There is literally something going on all around us all the time, and most of the time, we don’t even realize it. Florida itself has a wealth of biodiversity that is easily taken for granted.
Take for example, The Everglades. The Everglades National Park is one of only three places on Earth to be named as a Wetland of International Importance, a World Heritage Site, and an International Biosphere Reserve. It is also the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States.
Part of what makes the national park so magnificent is all the wildlife it sustains. While the Florida panther is a quite common name thanks to the hockey team, in reality it is one of 36 protected or threatened species that make their home in the national park. Today there are fewer than 100 Florida panthers left in the wild.
The ecosystems that make up the national park are very delicate. You may have heard lately about the problems of the python population that was introduced into South Florida.
Florida has ecosystems not found in 47 states. South Florida has more exotic non-native fish, reptiles, birds, and even plants than most
other states. The damage some of these can cause can, and does, upset the natural balance of the environment.
We may not notice these changes, or how detrimental they may be, just like when we walk out the front door every day to thinking that everything looks the same. On the contrary, life is always changing. Affecting one ecosystem, affects others in kind. What we often overlook is just how valuable each of these is and how fortunate we are to have such natural wonders like the Everglades National Park.
The old adage that we do not notice it until it’s gone is appropriate for the world that we live in and all that surrounds – and supports us. Each species, every native plant, and all of the animals play an important part collectively in sustaining what we currently have at our disposal in terms of our environment. The biodiversity that Florida offers is quite extraordinary, and part of what makes Florida unique.
There are so many other places within Florida, and even right here in Wellington that offer such natural beauty. Within that beauty, is a world of ecosystems unto themselves. Each one is unique in their own way and provides so much than merely something nice to look at. And do not limit yourself to the Everglades National Park, but check out the other parks in the area too. Feel free to send me an email with your experiences and any historical information that may not be readily available regarding the Everglades. I’d love your input!
Bryan Hayes is an actor, amateur photographer, business consultant and full-time lover of all things living. To check out more from Bryan Hayes, please visit his blog at:http://outofthehaze.wordpress.com/.