Environmental issues in Florida

This biodiversity leaves much of Florida's ecological ecosystem vulnerable to invasive species and human sources of industrial pollution and waste.

These included bridled darter, Panama City crayfish, Suwanee moccasin shell mussel, eastern hellbender salamander, Florida Keys mole skink, MacGillivray's seaside sparrow, boreal toad, Sierra Nevada red fox, and the Bicknell's thrush.

The US Fish and Wildlife Service is reluctant to declare them extinct because other butterfly species have been "rediscovered" after long periods of not being seen by man.

[11] Due in part to its prevalence in the exotic pet trade,[12] Florida has a large number of non-native species.

Many of the identified species are either non-breeding or stable populations, but several species, including the cane toad (Bufo marinus),[18] Gambian pouched rat (Cricetomys gambianus),[19] Nile monitor (Varanus niloticus),[20] and Burmese python (Python molurus bivittatus),[21] have created significant impact on the delicate ecosystems of the state, especially in the tropical southern third of the state.

Florida's fresh waters are host to 34 confirmed breeding species of exotic (introduced) fish, a higher number than any other place on earth.

[25] St. Lucie County is planning to experiment with burning trash through plasma arc gascification to generate energy and reduce landfill space.

Tailing ponds from the mines are vulnerable to breach and contamination of the local environment from the radioactive byproduct called phosphogypsum.

Floridians are experiencing increased flooding due to sea level rise, and are concerned about the possibility of more frequent or more intense hurricanes.

[32] The state has been described as America's "ground zero" for climate change, global warming and sea level rise, because "the majority of its population and economy is concentrated along low-elevation oceanfront.