In late March, Audubon staff led tours of Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary for the South Florida Water Management District Big Cypress Basin Board, including several newly appointed members. The day consisted of a guided boardwalk tour as well as a ride through the backcountry. Audubon staff discussed Sanctuary history and its significance in maintaining the largest tract of old-growth bald cypress forest in the world. They brought members through sections of wet prairie to highlight the importance of shallow, seasonal wetlands and how water levels have fallen significantly in recent decades. Wood Storks, which no longer breed in large numbers at the Sanctuary, are clear indicators of these changes.

The board members saw firsthand the Sanctuary staff’s efforts to control native-nuisance species on the property, including Carolina willow. The successful removal strategy pioneered here is now implemented by agencies across the state. They also discussed the range of iconic species that rely on the Sanctuary as habitat, such as the Florida panther and the ghost orchid, and the importance of collaborating with partners and neighbors on combating recent threats of developments nearby. Both in the backcountry and on the boardwalk, board members could see evidence of prescribed fire and learned about many benefits of this practice, including reducing catastrophic wildfire risk.

This article appeared in the 2024 Spring State of the Everglades report. Click here to learn more.