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Dry Tortugas National Park
@drytortugasnps

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To kick off #HispanicHeritageMonth, we're sharing #MyParkStory from our park superintendent, Pedro Ramos. Superintendent Ramos is the first Hispanic superintendent of Everglades and Dry Tortugas National Parks and the only Hispanic Senior Executive Service superintendent in the National Park Service. "Growing up in Puerto Rico was an experience that I wouldn't trade for the world. With its coral-rich waters, bioluminescent bays, limestone caves, and biodiverse tropical rainforests, the island's wealth of natural wonders helped spark my passion for nature. When I left the island to study at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, I encountered an opportunity to begin a Federal career as a student trainee with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in Vermont. This opportunity eventually led me back to the Caribbean as the Community Development Manager with the Rural Development Agency in the U.S. Virgin Islands. After a decade with the USDA, I transitioned into the National Park Service and found a community here in South Florida that shared many similarities with my home in Puerto Rico, from the climate, flora and fauna to the considerable Hispanic presence. Since I was named superintendent of Everglades and Dry Tortugas National Parks in 2015, one of my goals has been to help people develop a relationship with the parks right in their backyard, especially for people of color, Hispanics, and other communities that have been traditionally missing in our national parks. Relevance in our community is essential if we are to restore the Everglades ecosystem, preserve our coral reefs, and continue to confront new challenges that arise, such as the increasing threats posed by invasive species and climate change.” Pedro Ramos, Superintendent of Everglades and Dry Tortugas National Parks NPS Photo Alt text: A uniformed park ranger stands smiling with his arms folded across his chest in front of a background of grass and water. #Everglades #EvergladesNationalPark #FindYourPark #EncuentraTuParque