President Barack Obama will visit the Everglades for the first time on Wednesday to make the case for cutting air pollution believed to cause global warming and rising seas.
South Florida environmentalists welcomed his appearance as a way to highlight restoration projects designed to save wildlife and preserve water supplies.
During more than six years in office, Obama has proposed spending more than $2 billion for Everglades National Park and to restore the vulnerable ecosystem.
"[The visit] symbolizes the continued commitment to Everglades restoration in the face of climate change," said Julie Hill-Gabriel, Audubon Florida's director of Everglades policy.