Emilia Haus

Jan. 27 marks National Geographic Day, in which the world celebrates the beautiful nature of the Earth. In Florida, residents live among a diverse range of wildlife and plants.

Florida is home to the Everglades — a two million-acre diverse wetland filled with hundreds of different plants. The Everglades inhabits 30 types of orchids, bromeliads and mangroves. Mangroves are especially prevalent in this area; the Everglades is home to the largest mangrove in the Western Hemisphere. Mangroves serve as nurseries, feeding grounds and protection from rising sea levels, making them essential to Florida’s ecosystem. With climate change, various residents fear rising sea levels, however, mangroves are one of Florida’s defense mechanisms against this. They work to reduce erosion, protect against flooding and manage coastlines. 

The Pine Rocklands are another part of Florida’s ecosystem — containing multiple species of animals and plants such as butterflies, snakes, bats and beetles along with the Florida panther. The Pine Rocklands contain 400 different species of plants including the key thatch palm, silver palm and cabbage palm. 

The Florida Bonneted Bat species has suffered for years due to habitat loss as a result of human expansion. This almost recurred when investors wanted to make a waterpark on Zoo Miami grounds, also endangering the Pine Rocklands.. 

“That area is where the last of our native pine rocklands presides in that area. And that is where the biggest population of the Florida bonneted bat resides,” Miami Palmetto Senior High senior and Student Council Environmental Co-Chair Sara Kramer said.

The Florida panther is another animal that nears extinction. In Florida, there are only about 20-30 panthers left. As the top land predator, the Everglades food chain and cycle would suffer at the loss of the panther.

 “Florida itself, like there’s so many different regions. It is very sunny and if you go to North Florida, it has many different things than South Florida, so it is a big contrast.” junior and Boy Scouts Assistant Senior Patrol Leader Dhiren Signh said. 

Florida is filled with a variety of species and ecosystems that require care and protection.. Everything works together, and if one species becomes endangered, then others become at risk. Protecting these native and unique organisms is essential to preserve the beauty of Floridian nature.