Sun Belt - Environment

Environment

The environment in the Belt is extremely valuable, not only to local and state governments, but to the federal government. Eight of the ten states have extremely high biodiversity (ranging from 3,800 to 6,700 species, not including marine life). The Sun Belt also has the highest number of distinct ecosystems: chaparral, deciduous, desert, grasslands, and tropical rainforest. From the marshes on Florida's mainland to its extensive coral reefs, this state leads the entire United States in terms of its diversity in animal and plant species.

Some of the most endangered species live within the Belt and include:

  • Black-Footed Ferret
  • Ocelot
  • California Condor
  • Florida Panther
  • American Crocodile

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