The Everglades are a singular landscape — a slow-moving, subtropical river of grass that supports a dazzling array of wildlife and provides vital ecosystem services for surrounding communities. Stretching from freshwater marshes through sawgrass prairie into mangrove estuaries, the Everglades are defined by seasonal sheet flow, delicate salinity gradients, and habitats shaped by fire and water.

What makes the Everglades special
– Hydrology: Water moves in a broad, shallow flow from inland lakes toward the coast, creating a mosaic of habitats. That sheet flow sustains marshes, tree islands, and coastal wetlands that act as natural water filters and storm buffers.
– Biodiversity: Species range from iconic American alligators and West Indian manatees to secretive Florida panthers and migratory shorebirds.

Mangroves, seagrasses, and sawgrass are foundational plants that support fish, crustaceans, and a rich web of life.
– Ecosystem services: The Everglades store and deliver freshwater, reduce storm surge impacts, sequester carbon in peat and mangrove soils, and support fisheries and tourism economies.

Key challenges to resilience

– Altered water flow: Dams, canals, and drainage changed the timing and distribution of freshwater, degrading wetlands and increasing salinity in coastal zones.
– Nutrient pollution: Runoff from urban and agricultural lands raises phosphorus and nitrogen levels, favoring invasive plants and harming native marsh communities.
– Invasive species: Non-native species, especially large constrictors, have disrupted food webs and outcompeted native fauna in parts of the landscape.
– Climate pressures: Sea level rise and more intense storms are shifting salinity boundaries inland, stressing freshwater habitats and exacerbating erosion.
– Urban encroachment: Development fragments habitat and increases human-wildlife conflicts and pollution.

Restoration and management strategies
Healthy Everglades depend on restoring more natural water flow, improving water quality, and protecting connected lands.

Key management actions include:
– Recreating sheet flow by redirecting and storing freshwater, and reconnecting marshes to their historic water sources.
– Reducing nutrient loads through improved agricultural practices, stormwater treatment, and constructed wetlands that remove excess phosphorus and nitrogen.
– Controlling invasive species with targeted removal, research into biological controls, and robust monitoring.
– Protecting upland corridors and buffer zones to maintain habitat connectivity for wide-ranging species like panthers.
– Employing prescribed fire and adaptive habitat management to maintain plant community diversity.

How visitors and residents can help
– Practice responsible recreation: Stay on designated trails and waterways, never feed wildlife, and use licensed guides for tours.
– Reduce nutrient runoff: Minimize fertilizer use, choose native landscaping, and manage stormwater on your property.
– Support conservation organizations and science-based restoration initiatives through donations or volunteer time.
– Advocate for policies that prioritize freshwater flow and protect coastal wetlands.

Why it matters
The Everglades are more than a scenic wilderness — they are a living system that protects communities, sustains fisheries, and supports rare species.

Preserving and restoring this landscape requires coordinated water management, science-driven conservation, and public engagement. With thoughtful stewardship, the Everglades can remain a resilient, functioning ecosystem that benefits people and wildlife for generations.