NATIONAL PARK SERVICE • U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Foundation Document Overview Everglades National Park Florida

Contact Information For more information about the Everglades National Park Foundation Document, contact: [email protected] or (305) 242-7700 or write to: Superintendent, Everglades National Park, 40001 State Road 9336, Homestead, FL 33034 Purpose Significance

Significance statements express why Everglades National Park resources and values are important enough to merit national park unit designation. Statements of significance describe why an area is important within a global, national, regional, and systemwide context. These statements are linked to the purpose of the park unit, and are supported by data, research, and consensus. Significance statements describe the distinctive nature of the park and inform management decisions, focusing efforts on preserving and protecting the most important resources and values of the park unit.

• Interconnected Waterways. Everglades National Park is a unique subtropical wetland that is the hydrologic connection between central Florida’s freshwater ecosystem and the coastal systems of Florida Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.

• Global Designations. As the first national park designated Everglades National Park preserves for the protection of biological resources, Everglades the largest subtropical wilderness National Park is the only place in the United States jointly in the nation, a vast natural area designated as an International Biosphere Reserve, a World in the southern Everglades and Heritage Site, and a Wetland of International Importance. Florida Bay known throughout • Wilderness. Everglades National Park contains the the world for its unparalleled largest subtropical wilderness area in North America and ecological values, natural hydrologic the largest legislated wilderness area east of the Rocky conditions, vibrant cultural heritage, Mountains. The park’s legislated wilderness is known as the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Wilderness Area. and unique recreational and educational opportunities. • Natural Wonder. Everglades National Park contains a vast and hydrologically connected ecosystem, with wetland sloughs and prairies, tropical hardwood hammocks, pine rocklands, extensive mangrove estuaries, and Florida Bay with its expansive seagrass meadows. These diverse habitats support a mix of tropical and temperate plants and animals, including iconic species such as the ghost orchid, Florida panther, Cape Sable seaside sparrow, Florida leafwing, American alligator, American crocodile, roseate spoonbill, West Indian manatee, smalltooth sawfish, wood stork, anhinga, snook, and tarpon. Significance Fundamental Resources and Values

• Ecosystem Restoration. Everglades National Park Fundamental resources and values are those features, systems, includes and protects a large remnant of an endangered, processes, experiences, stories, scenes, sounds, smells, or vast, interconnected, and recovering ecosystem that has other attributes determined to merit primary consideration been impacted by and still faces unprecedented pressure during planning and management processes because they are from the regional water management system. Restoration essential to achieving the purpose of the park and maintaining of this ecosystem, considered one of the most endangered its significance. in the national park system, is dependent on a globally significant experiment in intergovernmental collaboration. • Ecological Integrity / Dynamics (Restoration)

• Ecosystem Services. Everglades National Park • Ecosystem / Landscape Diversity provides critical ecosystem services, outdoor recreation opportunities, and an enhanced quality of life for the • Ethnographic Resources almost 7 million people in South Florida. • Functioning Hydrologic System • Avian Significance. Everglades National Park provides important foraging and breeding habitat for more than 400 • Human History species of birds, is a significant breeding ground for wading birds in North America, and functions as a primary corridor • Native Plants and Animals and refuge for migratory and wintering wildlife populations. • Public Enjoyment • Human History. Everglades National Park preserves archeological and historical resources spanning Everglades National Park contains other resources and values approximately 6,000 years of human history, revealing that may not be fundamental to the purpose and significance adaptation to and exploitation and alteration of its of the park, but are important to consider in management and unique environment. planning decisions. These are referred to as other important resources and values. • Ethnographic and Archeological Resources Associated with American Indian Tribes of Florida. Everglades • Ecosystem Services Including Economic Values National Park includes natural and cultural resources that are part of the ancestral territory of American Indian tribes • Historic Buildings and Structures of Florida (including the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida, the Seminole Tribe of Florida, the Seminole Nation • Museum Collection of Oklahoma, and other American Indian groups such as the Council of the Original Miccosukee Simanolee Nation Aboriginal Peoples).

• Recreational Values. Everglades National Park provides the public with the opportunity to experience the Everglades wilderness for recreation, reflection, and solitude in proximity to one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United States. Description

Everglades National Park preserves part of the remaining Everglades Public concern regarding regional development ecosystem, a vast “River of Grass” that originally extended from and ecosystem degradation has galvanized its headwaters in the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes through Lake efforts among various governmental and Okeechobee and into the Water Conservation Areas and Everglades nongovernmental organizations to work toward a National Park, including the coastline of the Gulf of Mexico and balanced and sustainable South Florida ecosystem. Florida Bay. A diverse biological community thrives in the park within an expansive patterned wetland in a subtropical climate. The A wide variety of recreational opportunities is park encompasses 1,509,000 acres, including the largest legislated available to visitors. Popular activities include wilderness area (1,296,500 acres) east of the Rocky Mountains. wildlife viewing, nature hikes, fishing, camping, bicycling, motor boating, and canoeing. From initial settlement by American Indian tribes about 6,000 years ago The 99-mile-long Wilderness Waterway that to more recent use of Everglades resources throughout the 20th century, runs through the western part of the park the story of Everglades National Park includes links between natural offers outstanding backcountry boating and resources and human use (both historic and prehistoric) of the area. camping experiences.

To Naples Carnestown 95 25 mi 29 841 826 40 km 41 839 EVERGLADES Ochopee TEN THOUSAND ISLANDS NATIONAL CITY WILDLIFE REFUGE T 29 27 EN Gulf Coast Visitor 821 95 Monroe 41 Center Station 997 Sandfly Island CHOKOLOSKEE C YPR E S S 112 T H O U BIG C Y P RESS N A TIONAL PRESER V E SA N Miccosukee 836 D 836 Reserved Area Tamiami Trail M I AMI IS 41 41 LA N D 826 S Shark Valley 1 Everglades NP Visitor Center Loop Road EAST EVERGLADES

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COASTAL MARSH 9336 Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center NPS Headquarters

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Cypress North FLOR I DA B AY 5 10 Kilometers N Coastal Prairie 1 5 10 Miles Freshwater Slough Freshwater Marl Prairie TLANTIC OCEA A Y Pineland KE AE C IT ATI E AQURV GNUMVTE Hardwood Hammock LI A ST PRESE Existing Campground or Campsite Planned Campground or Campsite 1 Existing Visitor Facility

Cover Photo by Glenn Gardner