Bromeliads are important components of the ecosystems in which they are found. Water accumulates between the leaf axils, especially in the larger tank bromeliads, and many small animals live in what to them are like ponds. The base of large leaf axils of mature Tillandsia utriculata may contain water throughout the year in southern Florida, and up to 1.3 liters of water have been measured from large plants of this species in the state. Several insect and worm species depend on bromeliads in Florida for their survival, and larger animals such as frogs, snakes and salamanders use these plants for protection and as a water source.

Even non-tank bromeliads provide protection for a number of insect and other invertebrate species. Dozens of spiders and insects hide within masses of Spanish moss and ball moss. Two species of bats (red bats and pipistrellas) use Spanish moss as resting sites during the day. Spanish moss also constitutes a significant portion of the nests of several bird species (e.g., parula werbler [Parula americana] and Baltimore oriole [Icterus galbula]). Owls may also nest occasionally in some bromeliad species (great horned owl (Bubo virginianus) has been observed nesting on top of clumps of Tillandsia fasciculata in Florida).

Bromeliads in Florida contribute to the rich biological diversity found in the state's unique ecosystems. Seeds of bromeliads originally blew in from the West Indies to establish Florida's bromeliad populations, but the plants have been in Florida so long that they have become naturalized, adapting to the local environment. Their populations are genetically distinct from those of the same species in the West Indies from which they came. For example, Guzmania monostachia populations in Florida prefer shady locations and are never seen in the exposed upper canopy, the preferred location of populations of the same species in Central America and the Caribbean. The conservation of bromeliads in Florida contributes to the overall conservation of bromeliad biodiversity.

In addition to their important ecological roles, Florida's bromeliads are an aesthetic addition to the state's many parks and natural areas. The Florida State Park Service recently received the National Gold Medal State Park Award for Excellence, designating the Florida Park System as "America's Best Parks." During 1999-2000, there were 16.7 million visitors to Florida's state parks, which are the No. 2 destination for air visitors to Florida. The overall direct economic impact of the state park system on local economies was nearly $464 million in 1999-2000. Bromeliads adorn most of the national, state, and county parks in Florida, contributing substantially to the unique natural features that attract so many visitors each year. Their conservation is of consequence to the growing trend of ecotourism activities in the state.

Finally, epiphytic bromeliads provide an exceptional opportunity for teaching about many biological and environmental themes. In addition to analyzing such concepts as how epiphytic plants can survive in treetops without soil and how the water they collect serves as a home to different kinds of animals, students can appreciate some of the natural treasures of their state and come to understand how easily they can be lost forever. Teachers from elementary to college level and local environmental educators have been bringing groups to Myakka River State Park for hands-on experiences with these distinctive plants and to see the threats they are facing. Opportunities exist for similar programs at other bromeliad-rich parks. Conservation of the state's bromeliads ensures that teachers and environmental educators have continued access to this valuable resource when using parks for hands-on education.

The state's native bromeliads are a valuable component of Florida's unique ecosystems, and their loss would be significant, not only in ecological terms but also in terms of the loss of educational opportunities and aesthetic pleasure that native epiphytes provide to visitors of natural areas. The conservation of native bromeliads in parks and other protected areas is a priority. It is both desirable for the enjoyment of the many visitors to Florida's parks and necessary for the preservation of the state's endangered and threatened bromeliad species, given the ever-increasing encroachment of human populations on non-protected lands throughout south Florida.