Discover(ing) Sustainability

Rather than tour the Everglades at 30 mph on a noisy, gas-powered fan boat, yesterday Marli and I opted for a more discreet opportunity to explore the backcountry of southern Florida. At the Audobon’s Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, just 15 minutes outside of Naples, we witnessed some spectacular natural gems peppered along a 2.25-mile boardwalk. The 3-5′ high boardwalk took two young carpenters six months to build and neatly snakes around trees in a commendable effort to minimally impact the wet prairie, pond cypress, marsh, lettuce lakes, pine flatwood, and bald cypress forest habitats.

Upon entering the 2.5 hour walk, an interpretive sign (picture below) explained how the Brazilian hardwood used for the boardwalk was “selectively harvested” (not clear cut) for its natural resistance to rot and insects. Thus, the advantage is a naturally long-lasting material with zero chemicals to treat the wood that could otherwise leach into the Sanctuary.

Other interpretive signs along the walk identified some beautiful cypress trees, trees so old that they were alive when Columbus sailed the ocean blue! Unfortunately, most of the lands surrounding this 13,000 acre preserve have been drained, clear cut, plowed, and paved. As I’ve learned in the handful of ecology courses I’ve taken at UNH, wetlands hold so much value in contrast to what we once thought. One interpretive sign quoted an early pioneer describing swamps as dark areas full of poisonous plants and animals that breed deathly diseases and hold no benefit to humans.

In reality, wetlands are home to an extremely rich diversity of species. They play an integral role in the hydrologic cycle, serve as important natural water filters for pollutants, and buffer development from surges in water levels — particularly important given the implications of storm surge coupled with the rising sea levels of climate change. In hindsight, the boardwalk was a great way to see dozens of birds and hawks, 500+ year old trees, colorful anoles (lizards) and spiders, and much more. And best of all, we did it in a way that had a minimal impact with a maximum experience!