The winding trails @ Corkscrew (Post 3)

Today’s journey (field trip) took us deep into the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary.  Another location here in SWFL that I never knew existed. I suppose that is the intent of this course, to expand our minds on the sustainability of the neighboring land. 

Corkscrew had distinct ecosystems that included; Pine flat-wood, cypress dome, and oak hammock. They provide a range of ecosystem services. One could view the three ecosystems as filtering the water to help purify it before it goes into the waterways.  Beyond the nature, I found the “living machine” a man-made system, to be more fascinating.  In our culture we toss out anything we find invaluable and spend money and energy to create value.  The living machine takes the waste from the restrooms (commonly considered invaluable) and turns into a working wastewater treatment center (very valuable).  If bigger organization could grasp the mindset to use what we already have plenty of, our planet could be in less danger of running out of resources. This shows a great deal of stewardship to the sanctuary because they could have simply built a wastewater treatment center that would have taken up space and energy.  Because the Audubon is a non-profit private organization they are able to stick with their roots of conserving the environment. That is their heart and should as well to educate and show others how to have sustainability rather than wastefulness.  When groups like this one come together they can be an influence to change how people may see the environment. After touring the sanctuary, I have a better understanding of how humans have destroyed the natural flow of the water in Florida along with killing many birds.  Without the group of likeminded people, these swamps could be entirely cleared; killing the ecosystems and we would not get the chance to be educated on such things. The community supports the sanctuary making it a civic engagement. The Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary has become a loved part of Florida.  With thousands of visitors each year, it is obvious that people support its existence.  There is no real concern that anyone of power could destroy it. The community all supports the motivation to preserve this particular acreage.  There are trees in the sanctuary that are over 700 years old! This is a great motivator to preserve it; it is historically holding the oldest cypress trees.  Because the sanctuary is a crucial role in SWFL sustainability, the government should have a role in maintaining it.  The role of the government should be to protect the acreage and move forward with conserving it. This land is far too valuable to just let bulldozers in to destroy it and replacing it with a nice senior living center. First of all, it would affect the flow of water we are trying to conserve.  It would kill the entire habitat and their environment, which would throw off the ecosystem a great deal.  We would also be destroying the one man-made system that is doing more good then harm in Florida, setting a great example on how to conserve.

The Swamp Sanctuary is a great place to learn about ecosystems. I enjoyed seeing the many bugs, trees, plants, and animals in their natural environment. 

Until next time,
Annie