Florida features a highly unique, deeply interconnected, and fragile environment heavily influenced by water.
* **Protected Areas:** The state boasts 175 state parks, three national forests, and notable national parks including the Everglades (a UNESCO World Heritage site), Biscayne, and Dry Tortugas. * **Water Quality:** Protecting the Floridan Aquifer (the state's primary drinking water source) is a priority. Coastal waters occasionally experience "Red Tide" (harmful algal blooms), exacerbated by nutrient runoff, which the state is actively working to mitigate. * **Air Quality:** Florida enjoys generally excellent air quality, aided by coastal breezes and a lack of heavy manufacturing, though prescribed burns and summer heat can occasionally trap particulate matter. * **Conservation:** Major environmental focuses include the multi-billion-dollar Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP), coral reef preservation in the Keys, and the protection of the endangered Florida Panther and West Indian Manatee.