Corkscrew Sanctuary

          There is a place in Southwest Florida called Corkscrew Sanctuary.  I have never experienced this place before until the field trip we took there this past week.  The Corkscrew Sanctuary is a beautiful view into the wildlife and ecosystems that Florida has to offer.  I am very familiar with Florida wildlife; however, I was not aware of the plethora of ecosystems that can be in a seemingly small area with very distinct eco tones separating each one.  The first ecosystem we came across was called the Pine Flatwoods.  This ecosystem is flat and open because of natural forest fires that occur every 3-6 years.  This ecosystem is also at a higher elevation so there are plants here that would not survive in the lower wetlands.  The next ecosystem we came across as we walked out of the Pine Flatwoods was the Central Marsh.  The Central Marsh is a large area between the Pine Flatwoods and Cypress Forest.  It is in this ecosystem that you can see the distinct ecosystems.  This Marsh provides sources of food for many small animals and provides a nesting ground for many birds.

The edge of the Cypress Forest

            My favorite of all the ecosystems was the Cypress Forest.  When I walked into this mass of trees it did not feel like I was I Florida anymore.  I am very familiar with Pine Flatwoods, however, I do not live near any Cypress Forests.  This is the more wetland area because it is lower in elevation.  We saw a few alligators in some of the swampy areas and a few different types of birds.  Another interesting characteristic about the Cypress Forest is that, because the cypress trees lose their needles for several months in the winter, light can get to the forest floor and create a rich diversity of plants.

            Along with the natural ecosystems in Corkscrew Sanctuary there was also an interesting manmade structure called “The Living Machine.”  This is a natural way that Corkscrew has created to filter water using “nutrient-absorbing plants”.  A complete breakdown of how this system works can be found at the following link:

 

http://www.corkscrew.audubon.org/Information/LivingMachine.html

        When I think of conservation and stewardship, Corkscrew Sanctuary will now come to mind.  Conservation is defined as the careful utilization of natural resources in order to prevent depletion.  Stewardship is defined as the care and keeping of resources.  Private non-profit organizations such as Corkscrew Sanctuary encompasses these two terms based on their actions and techniques they introduce to their visitors.  The first thing you see walking into Corkscrew is the Living Machine.  Right away they are sharing their efforts in their conservation of natural resources.  Like-minded people can be inspired by the steps Corkscrew is taking and make some changes in their own lives, whether it is using a reusable water bottle or turning the water off while they brush their teeth.

            Civic engagement is another class that is offered here at FGCU and a term widely used in society, which ties into the idea of conservation and stewardship.  Civic engagement is addressing issues of public concern and taking action on those issues.  A major public issue is concerning our natural resources, which we can all take a part in.

            Corkscrew Sanctuary started because a group of people known as the Audubon Society wanted to preserve a forest of old growth cypress.  Old growth cypresses are cypress trees that are hundreds of years old and have never been touched.  The Society fought the government and settled on a deal to pay the government the value of the lumber contained in this particular acreage.  The deal went through and they purchased the land, which has grown into the vast Corkscrew Sanctuary.  The proper role of government in this situation should have been them siding with the Audubon Society, in my opinion. The government should have a part in the conservation of our land and resources; however, that is not always the case.  Bulldozing this land would have removed all of the old growth cypress trees and we may not have any today if the Audubon Society had not obtained the land.  This land being left alone has allowed many different ecosystems to thrive, as well as providing a beautiful piece of nature for the community to enjoy. The following are a few more pictures from my experience:

An Alligator!