Environmental issues in Florida

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There are a number of environmental issues in Florida.

Video Environmental issues in Florida

Everglades

The Everglades is a subtropical wetland located in southern Florida that has been established under the Ramsar Convention as one of only three areas of globally important wetlands. The Everglades recovery is being done with $ 7.8 billion, a 30-year project devoted to its preservation and recovery.

Maps Environmental issues in Florida

Biodiversity

Florida panther is an endangered population of a cougar (Puma concolor). There are about 230 individuals in the wild. The Center for Biodiversity and others have called for a special protected area for panthers.

Manatees also die at a much higher rate than their reproduction.

In 1977, the federal government placed crocodiles on an endangered list. They were expelled from the endangered list in 1987 and Florida allowed selective hunting in 1988.

In 2013, the US Fish and Wildlife Service is checking the list of nine species to see if they should be added to the protected list. These include darter hooded, Panama City crab, Suwanee moccasin shell clam, eastern hellbender salamander, Florida Keys mole skink, MacGillivray beach bird, boreal fox, red fox Sierra Nevada, and Bicknell sprue.

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Invasive Species

The country is more invasive

and reptiles from elsewhere in the world. The pet industry is responsible for 84% of the 137 non-native species introduced since 1863-2010. 25% tracked to a single importer.

Flora

Around 1,300 species of Florida plants (31 percent of the total) are non-natives who have become established; This 10 percent is considered invasive. The three most ecologically destructive are Brazilian pepper ( Schinus terebinthifolius ), which has taken over 703,500 acres (2,800 km ² ) in south and central Florida, and forms a single species. environment; Melaleuca ( Melaleuca quinquenervia ), which has invaded 488,800 acres (2,000 km ² ) - more than 12 percent of the total land area in South Florida, and spreads on an estimated 50 acres ( 202,300 m ² ) per day; and Australia Pine ( Casuarina spp ) covering 372,723 acres (1,500 km ² ), and whose needles fall off chemical substances into the soil that inhibit the growth of native plants.

By 2013, five rare butterflies, originally from Florida, have not been seen for more than six years. These include captain Zestos, Meste rockland captain, Zarucco duskywing, Nickerbean blue, and the Bahamian Swallowtail. The US Department of Fish and Wildlife is reluctant to say they have become extinct because other butterfly species have been "rediscovered" after a long period of invisibility to humans.

Hydrilla ( Hydrilla verticillata ) is the most significant invasive water plant species in the state; aggressive biological, chemical and mechanical management has reduced the effects of water hyacinth ( Eichhornia crassipes ) and watercress ( Pistia stratiotes ).

Fauna

Due to a portion of its prevalence in the exotic pet trade, Florida has a large number of non-native species. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission tracks 31 species of mammals, 196 bird species, 48 ​​reptile species, 4 amphibian species, and 55 fish species that have been observed in the state. Many of the species identified are non-breeding or stable populations, but several species, including Cane Toad ( Bufo marinus ), Gambia Pouch Mouse (Cricetomys gambianus ), Nil monitors ( Varanus niloticus ), and Burmese Python ( Python molurus bivittatus ), have created a significant impact on the country's delicate ecosystems, especially in the southern third of the state's tropics..

Florida's fresh water is host to 34 exotic fish breeding species that are confirmed (recognizable), a higher number than anywhere else on earth.

Since unintentional imports from South America to North America in the 1930s, the red-imported fire ant population has increased its territorial reach to cover much of South America, including Florida. They are more aggressive than the original ant species and have a painful sting.

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Mushrooms harm some non-native palms

The original Fusarium ancestor compromised several species of palm trees, including non-native palm trees, and the Washingtonia palm tree. This fungus seems to be being spread by humans using unanitary electrical appliances.

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Waste

18 million Florida residents and 80 million visitors generated over 32 short tons (29 tt) of solid waste million by 2010.

Increased landfill space has become a problem. In 2010 the cost of landfill space was about $ 400,000 per 1 acre (0.40 ha).

In 2010, the country has a goal of recycling 75% of its waste by 2020. Municipal experiments in single-stream recycling disposal seem to indicate that this goal may be achievable.

St. Lucie County plans to experiment with burning garbage through gamification of the plasma arc to generate energy and reduce landfill space.

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Pollution

In 2010 there were, in the state, 44 federal Superfund sites, 101 brownfields, 13,527 petroleum cleanups and over 3,000 other sites with dry cleaning fluid or other hazardous wastes. Drinking water is at risk because the surface of the water is very shallow.

Because of its marine origin, Florida land is naturally high in phosphorus. Coupled with fertilizer, this often leads to excessive phosphorus in water runoff to nearby water bodies. As a result, Florida has required certain cities to limit the application of phosphorus-containing fertilizers.

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See also

• Environmental issues in Brevard County
• Environmental Impact from the Cypress Major Jetport Swamp ("Leopold Report" or "Leopold-Marshall Report"), report from the Department of Home Affairs released in 1969

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References

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External links

• The Florida Environment - a citizen-based environmental advocacy organization
• Sierra Club Florida - environmental issues

Source of the article : Wikipedia