Wildlife surrounds us in all walks of life. Whether it be a trip to a local park or a hike in the mountains, nature is everywhere. However, some of nature may be lost in the near future without environmental protection. Therefore, the United States has implemented a National Park system to safeguard threatened and endangered species in a natural habitat. One of the larger national parks in the United States is Everglades National Park.

Everglades National Park is located just west of Miami, Florida at the tip of the peninsula. The park stretches over 1,508,537 acres of untouched land. The Everglades has a variety of optimal environments for different species within the park. The geographic features of the coastal park has provided diversity within both animal and plant species.

The Everglades provides a safe haven for species in the South Florida area. While Florida is well-known for their abundance of alligators, many other species roam the Everglades. Some of them include:

• Squirrel Treefrog
• Wood Stork
• Gulf Toadfish
• Short-tailed Shrew
• Florida Bonneted Bat
• West Indian Manatee
• Boa Constrictor

The unique features of the Everglades have inspired research throughout the national park. The South Florida National Resources Center (SFNRC) funds research and management in the Everglades. Programs ranging from the Ecological Modeling Program to the Invasive Plant Program have sparked environmental discovery for a sustainable lifestyle. Without these foundation programs, several technical reports that cite Everglades research would not exist.

The Everglades are constantly working to inspire surrounding parks to become more environmentally aware. The newest project of the Everglades focuses on environmental restoration. The restoration site is 6,300 acres of a former Everglades agriculture site. This process is detailed with planning, experiments, and permits, but it will be worth it in the end. By removing invasive and exotic species, this restoration project will protect the threatened species within the park. The project is set to be completed in the coming years, as 5,328 of the 6,300 acres have been restored.

CEDARVILLE Engineering Group, LLC (CEG) supports sustainability through environmental protection. Call us at 610-705-4500 or email info@cedarvilleeng.com to find out more.

By: J. Auerbach