Florida’s 2,400-square-mile Everglades wetland is a water, wildlife and fisheries reserve unrivaled on the North American continent, and for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, saving the ecosystem is vital to the future of the state. Since taking office, DeSantis has secured some $6.5 billion toward Everglades restoration, including recently advancing $805 million in the 2025-26 state budget for further conservation efforts of the marsh.

When DeSantis first ran for Governor in 2018, Florida was experiencing headline-grabbing environmental problems ranging from fish-killing red tides and toxic algae blooms to manatee die-offs and invasive species that were alarming residents and giving tourists pause.

DeSantis called on fellow Republicans to take a stronger stand on conservation, saying it was, “…a great opportunity to claim this as our mantle.”

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