Environmental protection is the application of methods and strategies to care for the natural environment and prevent serious or long-term damage. Individuals, organizations and government agencies can implement environmental protection policies and processes in an effort to conserve natural resources and restore or reverse existing damage. This may include programs aimed at reducing environmental risks or preserving existing plant and wildlife species.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) focuses on creating strong community partnerships, safeguarding Florida’s natural resources and enhancing its ecosystems. DEP staff, including biologists, chemists, attorneys, engineers, park rangers, geologists, law enforcement and administrative staff, work daily to protect Florida’s air, water and lands. This includes overseeing and implementing dozens of regulatory, resource management and restoration programs. DEP also manages 175 state parks, trails and historic sites as well as 45 coastal and aquatic areas, which provide world-class recreational opportunities to Floridians and visitors.
Responsible for the state’s natural environment, the department divides its functions into three areas:
As a regulatory agency, it regulates air pollution, water pollution, the use of wetlands and shorelines, and the siting of hazardous waste facilities, power plants and natural gas pipelines.
It manages more than 10,000 acres (40 km 2 ) of state lands, including Florida state parks and recreation areas, greenways, trails, wildlife management areas, and restores the ecological quality of the Everglades. DEP oversees Florida’s reef system, from Biscayne National Park in Miami-Dade County to St. Lucie Bay in Martin County, with its Coral Reef Conservation Program.
As a planning agency, it studies the state’s geological resources, oversees the management of water resources by water management districts, controls invasive species, particularly aquatic plants, monitors the state’s environmental quality, and oversees the reclamation of mined lands.