Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary in Florida Named Vital Wetland by Ramsar Convention: Audubon of Florida’s Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, home of the largest stand of Bald Cypress trees in the world, and the associated Panther Island Mitigation Bank (PIMB), has been listed as a Wetland of International Importance by the Ramsar Convention.
The official designation as a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance underscores the need to protect this vital resource from a host of threats, including invasive species and development in sensitive watersheds for which Corkscrew serves as an essential link. Nearly 200 species of birds thrive in the sanctuary, renowned as home to America's largest nesting colonies of Wood Stork, a federally endangered species. The storks nest in majestic 600-year-old bald cypress, reaching heights of 40 meters.
Also included in the designation are lands totaling more than 2,700 acres that were contributed to the Sanctuary, together with management funding in perpetuity, by the Panther Island Mitigation Bank. The mitigation bank project successfully restored degraded wetlands and provided additional Wood Stork habitat that complements the Corkscrew sanctuary. This is the first time Ramsar has recognized mitigation bank property.
