Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is an excellent example of Southwest Florida’s efforts to preserve habitat and slow down development, which is the leading cause of the destruction of biodiversity. Each day, on my way to work and school, I watch the vegetation and forest that support our wildlife being swallowed up by the relentless construction that is taking place in Southwest Florida. Animals, especially bears and panthers, are being displaced at an alarming rate. It is no wonder that the Florida panther is an endangered species. The National Audubon Society, a private entity, owns Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. This society makes the Sanctuary available to the general public who in turn helps support the Sanctuary through donations, entry fees and memberships.  The interaction between this private and public partnership is vital in protecting this amazing slice of biodiversity. This partnership assures that future generations will be able to enjoy the beauty of Corkscrew Sanctuary, while the wildlife and vegetation will also be protected from human encroachment.

During the semester and throughout our field trips we learned about the complex relationships of humans and all the plants and animals in our ecosystem. We discussed the implications of the negative consequences of over development and poor planning as they affected the delicate balance that we depend on for survival. FGCU’s efforts at conservation and preservation are a great example of a public funded institution working with the surrounding community to protect biodiversity. I must compliment the University on developing a curriculum that focuses on the issue of protecting biodiversity. This class is a prime example of that philosophy. The essence of the problems facing our disappearing ecosystems and the importance of developing solutions are reflected in this quote; “To achieve successful protection of both terrestrial and marine biodiversity, it is absolutely key that already designated as well as newly assigned areas are far better protected and that the local and national authorities are allocated the resources and means to protect the land and sea.”(Moving toward sustainable prosperity, pg.176)

Reference:

Assadourian, Erik, Michael Renner, and Linda Starke. State of the World 2012: Moving toward Sustainable Prosperity: A Worldwatch Institute Report on Progress toward a Sustainable Society. Washington, DC: Island, 2012. Print.

Welome to Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary 

The boardwalk that extends throughout the entire conservation 

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary

Pine Manor Community Garden

Pine Manor Community Garden opened my eyes to the challenges that face Lee County’s urban poor. The urban poor have limited access to technology needed to help them locate and find jobs. Perhaps, the biggest problem facing this community is the lack of availability of fresh and healthy foods. This is known as a food desert. The nearest grocery store for them is about 20 minutes away.  Since many of them rely on others for transportation, it’s an all day affair just to get groceries.  After hearing these challenges they face it made me more appreciative of my environment, which I tend to take for granted. The realization that this urban food desert exists less than 20 minutes away from the FGCU campus was surprising. The fact that they can be found so close to affluent communities made me wonder why the problem is so overlooked.

Urban agriculture can help with the problems faced by the urban poor. Gardens like the one I observed at Pine Manor can help offset the challenges the community faces with access to a healthy food supply. The modern agricultural industry struggles with issues such as resource depletion and contamination of the ground and water supply by the prevalent use of pesticides. Small urban gardens do not create the stress on the environment that big agriculture does. When urban gardens replace abandoned land within the city they create a more efficient and productive use of the land resources. Increased utilization of urban gardens can help negate the desertification process that large-scale agriculture can create.

It is entirely possible that I may be employed in a school district that contains an urban poor population. I must be sensitive to the issues faced by my students that apply to nutrition, transportation, technology limitations and socioeconomic stresses. The needs of the urban poor are different from mainstream society. If you don’t have personal experience with these particular needs it is important to learn as much as you can about them in order to be a more effective teacher.

Pine Manor Community Garden

Individual garden plots

Center of the garden 

Beautiful red flower

My favorite plant apart of the garden