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Everglades National Park
Biscayne National Park
Big Cypress National Preserve
 PARK DESCRIPTIONS:
The South Florida wetlands protected by Everglades National Park, Biscayne National Park, and Big Cypress National Preserve comprise one of the most spectacular and biologically important ecosystems on the planet. Home to 68 threatened and endangered species, the parks attract millions of migrating birds to South Florida and form the backbone of the region's tourist economy.
THREAT:
Water levels and pollution remain significant concerns for the three South Florida parks. Although Congress last year passed the Everglades Restoration bill, which authorized billions of dollars' worth of projects to help return the Everglades to a more natural state, the projects face almost insurmountable challenges. Congress must appropriate the funds, the state of Florida must match the funds, and complicated technical plans must be formulated using inadequate data and untried technologies.
The parks are also threatened by farmers and local municipalities that want to divert water from the Everglades to irrigate farms and to water lawns, and to use the Everglades as a water "dump" to help control floods during wet seasons—potentially damaging to the delicate ecosystem.
 In addition, Big Cypress National Preserve faces degradation by continued off-road vehicle damage, as swamp buggies continue to tear up the fragile wetlands there.
SOLUTION:
The National Park Service (NPS) cannot be complacent about its success in Congress with the restoration bill. As the restoration plan is implemented, NPS must vigorously pursue performance standards, begin construction, and develop scientific solutions that benefit the ecosystem. Also, Congress and the Florida legislature must appropriate adequate funds for the project, and refrain from passing laws that transform the restoration plan into a flood-control/water-supply plan. Similarly, in Big Cypress, NPS must vigorously enforce its recently announced restrictions on motorized-abuse from swamp buggies.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
If you live in Florida, write to Governor Bush in support of full funding of Everglades restoration, and ask him to support the off-road vehicle plan now in place at Big Cypress National Preserve. Regardless of your location, write your local congressperson and Senators to ask them to fully fund restoration during this appropriations cycle. Also, keep abreast of developments in the Everglades Restoration Plan through the NPCA Web site.
South Florida National Parks Press Release
South Florida National Parks Photographs | 
