Entry #3

The distinct ecosystems I saw at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary was the flatwoods, which was a field with no trees, just swamp grass. Then we saw the verdant cypress trees that have thinner trunks. After passing through the flatwoods and verdant cypress for a brief moment, the rest of the trail was mainly swamp cypress. One of the ecosystem services that Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary provides is the living machine. The living machine is a natural water restoration system that restores waste water to near-drinkable quality using native wetland plants. Conservation is official supervision of rivers, forests, and other natural resources in order to preserve and protect them. Stewardship is similar to conservation, it's conducting, supervising, or managing something. The role of private non-profits in conservation and stewardship is to protect the natural resources and ecosystems from being destroyed. Like-minded people can affect change by getting together and involving the community to do their part to help the ecosystem and create places like Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. Civic engagement factors into it because it promotes the bridging of communities with socially conscious thought and action. The motivation to preserve Corkscrew was to protect the nesting colonies of wading birds in the Corkscrew swamp area. From an ecological perspective, we should not bulldoze Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary because it is a vital part of Southwest Florida's ecosystem. Without it, there would be many animals without homes and there wouldn't be a place where people can get educated.