Rare plants in the Everglades under siege, struggling against extinction

Sensitive landscape: A new report found sea level rise, invasive exotic species and human activities threatening the health of the Everglades National Park in Florida. Photos: AFP

Many plants that used to flourish in South Florida are now barely clinging to existence in the Everglades and nearby protected areas.

A landmark report – 10 years in the making – looked at critically imperilled plants at Everglades National Park and found that 16 of them may already have vanished from there. Possible culprits? The same threats faced by the park’s endangered animals: rising sea levels, invasive species and humans.