Journalist, author, environmental activist, and founder of Friends of the Everglades, Marjory Stoneman Douglas, said in her book, The Everglades: River of Grass, “There are no other Everglades in the world. They are, they have always been, one of the unique regions of the earth; remote, never wholly known. Nothing anywhere else is like them…” (Douglas) The Everglades are located in the southern part of Florida. The Everglades National Park was established on December 6, 1947. The reason the park was established was to preserve the biological diversity of the Everglades ecosystem. The Everglades National Park consists of about 1.5 million acres. This vast National Park offers much history to learn, along with interesting attractions, beautiful
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There are many different species of plants and trees, including both native and invasive plants. The different kinds of trees vary from mangroves to pine and cypress woods. The native plants are vast in number. There are thirty-nine native species of epiphytic orchids that call the Everglades their home, and approximately seven hundred and fifty other kinds of native seed-bearing plants. There is a total of one hundred and sixty-four species listed by the State of Florida that inhabit the Everglades. Out of the huge number of native species that inhabit the Everglades ecosystem, forty-seven are listed as a threatened species, one hundred and thirteen as endangered, and four as commercially exploited. A few of the critically imperiled species of native plants include grasses, sedges, ferns, orchids, shrubs, trees, and vines. Invasion plants, or problem plants, are an issue for the Everglades ecosystem. The invasion of nonnative plants are the second greatest threat that is proposed to the native species. Examples of invasive species to the Everglades include Australian pine, latherleaf, climbing fern, melaleuca, and Brazilian pepper. These nonnative plants can cause harm to the native species and try to take them over. Though there may not be as many invasive species as there are native species, they can still cause major issues to the native ecosystem. The Everglades National Park workers take much time clearing out and isolating the invasive plants to keep the native species safe and
There are many different species of plants and trees, including both native and invasive plants. The different kinds of trees vary from mangroves to pine and cypress woods. The native plants are vast in number. There are thirty-nine native species of epiphytic orchids that call the Everglades their home, and approximately seven hundred and fifty other kinds of native seed-bearing plants. There is a total of one hundred and sixty-four species listed by the State of Florida that inhabit the Everglades. Out of the huge number of native species that inhabit the Everglades ecosystem, forty-seven are listed as a threatened species, one hundred and thirteen as endangered, and four as commercially exploited. A few of the critically imperiled species of native plants include grasses, sedges, ferns, orchids, shrubs, trees, and vines. Invasion plants, or problem plants, are an issue for the Everglades ecosystem. The invasion of nonnative plants are the second greatest threat that is proposed to the native species. Examples of invasive species to the Everglades include Australian pine, latherleaf, climbing fern, melaleuca, and Brazilian pepper. These nonnative plants can cause harm to the native species and try to take them over. Though there may not be as many invasive species as there are native species, they can still cause major issues to the native ecosystem. The Everglades National Park workers take much time clearing out and isolating the invasive plants to keep the native species safe and