Everglades

In the geography of human-environment interaction class, I am taking this semester, we have had discussions and done research about the history of human-environment relationships. Specifically, I looked into the Everglades and how much the ecosystems have diminished over time because of people taking advantage of the land without knowing the ramifications that would proceed to hinder the wetlands and its diversity of species. Starting in the 18^thand 19^thcenturies, settlers came over to Florida to start new lives for themselves – that meant a lot of construction and destruction of the surrounding wetland landscapes. At first, people commodified the land with little knowledge of just how valuable the land was. In recent years, actions have been made trying to protect and replenish the lands for all the damage that has been done. While the wetlands in the Everglades will most likely never be brought back to its vitality after people came along and nearly destroyed the ecosystem; there are now constraints and regulations people have to follow. There was also a National Park placed in the Everglades to encourage awareness and replenishing of habitats. 

         The history of human-environment relationship ties into this class because how people see the land is how they will use it, and for better or worse destroy, or control it. Like the Everglades, the early settlers had little appreciation for the land; only seeing it for gaining benefits like wealth, materials, and farmable land. The wetlands weren’t a place where they confided in to seek beauty and innate experiences, instead, it was a place where they could flourish as a civilization.