Wetlands provide food, habitat, cover, and refuge for many wildlife species. Most threatened and endangered animals in Florida depend on wetlands for at least part of their life cycle. Many endangered plant species grow exclusively in wetlands.

Intact wetlands hold rainwater, and slowly release it downstream over an extended period of time. Wetlands that have been drained, quickly release the rains, and then dry out much more quickly than they naturally would. Drainage of freshwater wetlands adjacent to saltwater ecosystems can cause problems by rapidly lowering salinity levels. These rapid salinity changes can disrupt fish and invertebrate breeding, and reduce the productivity of these areas. During dry periods, the drained wetlands do not release the water they naturally would. This causes unnaturally high salinity that further reduces productivity. Drained wetlands are also more prone to wildfires that burn organic soils, causing smoke problems.

Wetland restoration projects are occurring continuously on Florida's State Forests. These projects have included restoration of wet prairies on Tate’s Hell State Forest, restoration of water levels in Bennet swamp on Tiger Bay State Forest, and redesign of forest roads on Blackwater River State Forest to reduce erosion problems. Nearly 50,000 acres of Piccayune Strand State Forest is scheduled for restoration as part of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan.