The Everglades is known for its many wading birds, such as white and glossy ibises, roseate spoonbills, egrets, herons, and wood storks. In Florida, the Everglades is the primary source of drinking water for more than a third of Florida’s population! In a statement released by the Sierra Club’s Everglades Restoration Organizing Representative, Diana Umpierre said, “we hope today’s announcement will be the beginning of meaningful action to acquire all the lands needed to restore and protect the Everglades. Some of these reasons are based on my own experience living within the ecosystem itself, while other tidbits I collected from park rangers, sanctuaries, and volunteers when I was in college. It simply makes good business sense to do so. More than 360 bird species can be found in Everglades National Park alone. When the COVID-19 crisis passes, clean water will be the key to our state’s economic resurgence. We cannot engineer a better solution, even if we could pay for it. The Ecological Society of America is a community of 9,000 scientists, researchers, decision makers, policy managers, and educators who are dedicated to understanding life on earth. That’s why protecting what remains of the Everglades is more important than ever. We should not be investing in risky technologies like Aquifer Storage and Recovery that inject polluted water into our aquifers, and we certainly cannot afford another “lost summer” of toxic algae blooms. First, the Everglades currently serve as a buffer against hurricanes for those living in South Florida. Everglades restoration is our mission. ESA strengthens connections within and outside our community to support your work and promotes ecological science. Why should we care about the Everglades? Protect our environment and our economy, restore the Everglades. Explore the Places We Protect; Connect With Nature. Beyond concern for the wildlife populations and natural environment of the Everglades, there are a few reasons why conservation and restoration of the Everglades are of paramount importance. The Tamiami Trail cuts straight through the heart of the Everglades. Work alongside TNC staff, partners and other volunteers to care for nature, and discover unique events, tours and activities across the country. National parks provide a unique opportunity for Americans and visitors alike to experience vast expanses of the great outdoors. It also hosts huge numbers of smaller migratory birds. The north side of the trail is drowning from too much water while the south side of the Trail; Everglades National Park & Florida Bay are impacted by lack of water. The Everglades is internationally known for its extraordinary wildlife. Here are 5 lesser known reasons why we should fight to keep the Everglades. We are an advocate for ecology and a voice for ecologists. 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