The Greater Everglades Ecosystem encompasses nearly 18,000 square miles of interconnected freshwater and coastal wetlands, estuaries, marine environments, and upland areas, from the Kissimmee River Basin and Lake Okeechobee, southward through central Everglades freshwater systems, to Florida Bay and the Florida Keys.
Over more than a century, the Greater Everglades ecosystem has been fundamentally altered. Extensive drainage programs have halved its historic extent and disrupted natural water flows. The Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP)—the largest restoration project in the western hemisphere—aims to “get the water right” by improving water quantity, quality, timing, and distribution through water storage, water treatment, and projects to restore natural freshwater flows throughout the system.
This effort is essential to Florida’s long-term economic success. The immense natural capital of the Greater Everglades fuels economic prosperity and government revenues, creating a virtuous cycle in which sustained investment in ecosystem restoration and management supports a more resilient South Florida economy.
In 2025, Earth Economics and The Everglades Foundation conducted a science-based analysis of the monetary contributions of these iconic ecosystems. This initial assessment highlights key benefits for Floridians, underscoring the importance of natural capital in sustaining the region’s economy, environment, and quality of life. It is the first in-depth analysis of the services produced by the ecosystems of the Greater Everglades and provides a solid foundation for future research.
The report assessed eight ecosystem services. Combined, they provide at least $31 billion (2023 USD) in value for residents and visitors each year. Based on a 50-year NPV at 2 percent, the asset value of the Greater Everglades combined ecosystem services is at least $1.01 trillion.
Key Takeaways
America’s Everglades is an invaluable natural asset, supporting the economy, well-being, and quality of life in South Florida.
The most substantial Greater Everglades ecosystem benefits are deeply interlinked with South Florida’s largest economic sectors (tourism and real estate) and help to mitigate the most pressing threats of water security and flooding.
This report underscores an urgent need for a more accurate and comprehensive valuation of the Greater Everglades—both market and nonmarket benefits—and outlines a systematic path forward to address current knowledge gaps
Restoring America’s Everglades makes good economic sense.
The Everglades Foundation’s objective is to identify, catalogue and convey the many contributions of America’s Everglades to communities and the economy.