A school of snapper in the Florida Keys.
The Sierra Club has been fighting for the health and restoration of the Everglades for more than 30 years. Today, threats of destruction stem from urban development, water pollution, and loss of water meant for the Everglades. To save the iconic Everglades, water quality and water flow south to Everglades National Park and Florida Bay must be restored. In recent years, unseasonable wet weather and tropical storms have led to massive polluted discharges from regional lakes into rivers. Disturbing the balance of freshwater and saltwater, this leads to severe damage of the environment-- killing marine life and compromising livelihoods of many in South Florida.
Our Wild America is also focused on ending harmful agricultural practices in the region. The outdated and unnecessary practice of burning sugarcane is costly to affected communities and the natural environment-- damaging water, air and quality of life. We work in concert with the Everglades restoration campaign with an emphasis on environmental justice and sustainability outcomes. Water pollution from agriculture, excess fertilizer and sewage threatens Floridian health, drinking water, property values and waterfront communities everywhere from the Panhandle to the Keys. Harmful algae build-up from pollution threatens the tourism economy, aquatic habitat, wildlife quality of life for Floridians.
Our Wild America also continues fighting for the preservation of the Florida Panther by challenging attempts to rollback endangered species protections for one of the region’s most important yet threatened species. The panther signals a national need for better wildlife management. Our Wild America is advocating for protection and restoration of this iconic natural system -- one that plays a significant role in slowing climate disruption and hosts some of the most diverse wildlife in the country.