As we commemorated the 95th anniversary of the National Park Service on Aug. 25, it provided us an opportunity to discuss the tremendous value of our Florida national parks and how we might work together to better protect these treasures for the future.
From the iconic Everglades National Park to marine parks like Biscayne — national parks provide the perfect backdrop for reflecting on our American heritage. However, a recent decade-long study shows that many of our shared treasures are in peril and suffering from both long-standing and new threats that are impacting the wildlife, water and air within our parks. In addition, many parks suffer from inadequate funding and staffing shortfalls.
Here in Florida, Everglades National Park is at risk of losing vital park lands to powerlines proposed by Florida Power & Light that would run through sensitive wetlands that are home to a number of endangered species. The coral reefs of Biscayne National Park are under threat from bleaching, disease, and human impacts, yet provide habitat for a wide array of marine life. State and federal plans to rejuvenate Everglades and Biscayne National Parks are jeopardized due to shrinking budgets.With the upcoming 2016 centennial of the National Park Service, there are simple solutions to addressing the challenges that face our national parks. Working together with our elected officials, we must act now to implement a plan that will put our national parks back on track for their second century.
This is a turning point in the history of our parks, and we must not break the promise that past generations made to future generations. America's national parks need our help and it is up to all Americans to help them now.
John Adornato III is the Sun Coast regional director of the National Parks Conservation Association in Hollywood.