Florida Wetlands Named Among The World’s Most Important
The Daily Passport recently detailed the most important wetlands around the country. They also explain the importance of preserving these wetlands, largely due to the wildlife that lives there. In Florida, a swamp area made this list of the world’s eight most important wetlands.
“Although wetlands (alternatively called bogs, bayous, swamps, or marshes) cover less than 8% of the Earth’s land, it’s estimated that they retain almost a third of the world’s carbon,” Daily Passport explains.
The Florida Everglades
It will come as no surprise that the Everglades made this list. The Everglades is home to one of the most diverse populations of different animal species. In fact, “The Swamp” is more than just the nickname of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium (aka the home of the Gators) in Gainesville.
“The wetlands are home to a large number of endangered or threatened species, including panthers, alligators, and manatees — said to have inspired sailors’ tales of mermaids,” The Daily Passport explains of the Florida Everglades.
National Park Service explains, “Everglades National Park protects an unparalleled landscape that provides important habitat for numerous rare and endangered species like the manatee, American crocodile, and the elusive Florida panther.”
Although there are 1.5 million acres of swampland here, there are only three official entrances. In recent years, Visit Florida has consciously guided tourists and travelers through the best ways to explore the Everglades. Airboat rides zipping through the swamp waters to see alligators is always a popular excursion. This is also a great way to take in and learn about the 469,000 acres of mangrove tree forests (there are three different kinds). These mangroves are essential to the health of the state’s southern coast environmental zone. Their ecosystem traps and cycles essential nutrients.
This Florida swamp was joined only by North Carolina and Louisiana, as the only areas in America to be recognized. Indonesia, Botswana, and the Great Vasyugan Mire in Russia were some of the other wetland areas to accompany the list.
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