The Everglades is a singular landscape — a slow-moving “river of grass” where freshwater from higher ground spreads across sawgrass marshes, mangrove fringes, and subtropical hardwood hammocks before reaching Florida Bay. This mosaic of habitats supports high biodiversity and provides essential services like flood control, water filtration, and carbon storage, making the Everglades a conservation priority with nationwide significance.

What makes the Everglades unique
The Everglades is defined by its sheet flow: shallow, broad, slow-moving water that nourishes plants and wildlife across vast expanses.

Sawgrass prairies alternate with tree islands, mangrove estuaries, and coastal seagrass beds, creating transitions that support species from wading birds and manatees to marsh fish and epiphytic orchids.

Many species here are range-restricted, meaning protection of these habitats is crucial for their survival.

Key threats to the ecosystem
Altered hydrology is the most significant pressure. Water diversion, drainage, and development have changed the timing and distribution of freshwater, stressing plant and animal communities and accelerating saltwater intrusion along the coast.

Invasive species — notably Burmese pythons in interior marshes and invasive plants like melaleuca and Brazilian pepper — outcompete native flora and disrupt food webs. Nutrient pollution from agricultural runoff promotes algal blooms and shifts vegetation toward cattails at the expense of native sawgrass. Sea level rise and stronger storm events are pushing saltwater further inland, threatening coastal mangroves and peat soils.

Restoration and adaptive management
A multi-agency effort aims to restore more natural water flow, improve water quality, and rebuild resiliency across the landscape. Strategies include increasing freshwater storage and flow, implementing stormwater treatment areas to reduce nutrient loads, removing invasive species, and restoring wetlands and riparian corridors. Tribal governments, local communities, scientists, and land managers collaborate to refine adaptive approaches that respond to changing climate and hydrologic conditions.

Long-term monitoring and research continue to guide interventions that balance ecosystem needs with urban and agricultural water demands.

Responsible ways to experience the Everglades
Visiting the Everglades offers powerful firsthand insight into why protection matters. Popular, low-impact ways to enjoy the area include guided kayak and canoe trips, airboat tours in designated private areas, boardwalk trails like those that showcase wildlife and wetlands, and ranger-led walks and paddles. When visiting:
– Respect wildlife: observe from a distance, never feed wild animals, and follow park regulations.
– Prepare for insects and sun: bring insect repellent, lightweight long sleeves, and sunscreen.
– Stay on trails and carry out all waste to reduce human impact.
– Consider less-crowded seasons and guided eco-tours that emphasize conservation.

How to help beyond visiting
Support conservation through local organizations and volunteer programs focused on habitat restoration, invasive-species removal, and citizen science monitoring. Advocate for water policy that prioritizes ecological flow and clean water, and reduce nutrient runoff from lawns and properties by minimizing fertilizer use.

Public education and community participation in restoration projects accelerate recovery and build resilience.

The Everglades remains a dynamic, resilient ecosystem when given the right protections and stewardship. Supporting science-based restoration, responsible visitation, and local conservation initiatives helps ensure this remarkable landscape continues to provide ecological, cultural, and economic benefits for generations to come.