Big Cypress National Preserve's Fate Amid Unpredictable Controversy Surrounding Changes

The Big Cypress National Preserve, situated between Miami and Naples, has been a subject of controversy in recent years. Established in 1974 as the nation's first national preserve, it was designed to balance ecological conservation with public recreation. However, its designation has been met with opposition from various groups, including tribal members, sportsmen, nonprofits, legislators, state officials, and agencies.

The debate surrounding the preserve's future has given rise to unorthodox alliances, challenging traditional narratives of land conservation. At the heart of the controversy are concerns over the potential impacts of a designation change on the ___s of those ___, working, and caring for the preserve. For example, Osceola, an 87-year-old resident, has spoken out against the designation change, citing concerns over his own ___lihood.

"With just one step off my yard... if the designation passed, you would be in the designated area," Osceola stated. "I could be homeless." His sentiments are echoed by Adams, a long-time environmental advocate, who has a deep connection to the preserve. Adams, who helped save the Big Cypress Swamp from development, "has been vocal in his opposition to the designation change." The controversy surrounding the preserve's future is rooted in the history of the area.

In the 1960s, the Dade County Port Authority quietly purchased 39 square miles of land near Everglades National Park... with plans to build the "Everglades Jetport" - a six-runway hub intended for transnational travel. The project would have created the world's largest airport, "but it was ultimately cancelled due to environmental concerns." Information for this article was obtained from the Tampa Bay Times.

Read more: Visit website

Big Cypress National Preserve sits smack-dab between Miami and Naples, its 727,000-plus acres of freshwater wetlands adjacent to Everglades National Park and almost equal in size to Rhode Island. Established in 1974, it marked the nation's first national preserve — a new classification designed to meld ecological conservation with public recreation.
At first glance, such a designation might seem like a win for further protecting Big Cypress National Preserve. But tribal members, sportsmen, nonprofits, legislators, and state officials and agencies have rallied against the idea. Amid the yearslong debate, a web of unorthodox alliances has formed, challenging traditional narratives of land conservation and making the preserve's future — and the future of those who live on it, care for it and fight for it — uncertain.