The well popular everglades national park is a habitat for various animal species. It is located between Lake Okeechobee, which is in south Florida, and the Gulf of Mexico. The everglades national park is one of the most extensive tropical wetlands all across the world. This national park has also marked its place in the list of the world heritage sites.
But in recent years it is witnessed that the condition of the park is deteriorating due to many factors. These include invasive species, fertilizer drainage, development, and human population growth. The park has numerous endangered and rare species such as bald eagle, Florida panther, American alligator; sea turtle are some species that are solely dependent upon the ecosystem of the everglades national park. There is absolutely no doubt in the fact that if the encroachment continues, then the ecosystem of the park will suffer greatly, and that is going to result in the extinction of many rare species ultimately.
Florida is a place that attracts tens of thousands of people every day because of the many developmental activities that take place near the park as well as the Everglades national park itself. The residential buildings, industrial zones, and commercial buildings near the location of the park have put enormous stress on the ecosystem and the water balance of the park. In the namesake of human development, it will a step of absolute shame if the ecosystem of place dies out.
The park is now using the money collected from the entry fees for the purpose of repairing. According to a study, it is revealed that the maintenance backlogs have mounted over the years and have been nearly about $12 million. The condition of the park was deteriorated even further due to the hurricanes Wilma and Irma. According to the reports, the hurricane Wilma was responsible for destroying the old lodge and the visitor center, which was constructed under the National Park Service Mission back in the 1960s.
On the other hand, in the year 2017, the Irma hurricane destroyed the western boundary and the gulf coast visitor center of the Everglades national park. Due to all this, the income of the park is remaining at a very low position. The storm that hits the city keeps visitors and tourists away from the park. It was recorded that after Wilma, the number of visitors and tourists dropped by a significant amount of number.
In order to improve the situation of the park, the officials decided to increase the price of entrance passes for seven days. The finances were so disturbed that the officials of the park started asking money from the tourist if they were talking water with them. The increase in the prices is regulated so that the backlog of the maintenance can be addressed. In recent news, it is seen that due to lack of accommodation, the officials of the everglades national park has put a delay in the planned increase of the entrance fees. Around 80 percent of the collected money remains with the park’s budget so that the condition of the national park can be improved.
As an Everglades Fishing Guide, we pay an annual payment so we can fish inside the Everglades National Park with our customers. Those monies and other entrance fees are all that keep this amazing natural wilderness in the condition it is in. I highly encourage my angling clients to add the Everglades National park as a benefactor to one’s charity donations.