The Start of a Sanctuary

The Start of a Sanctuary. . ”We have to save the swamp a hundred times but we only get to lose it once.”, In the 1930’s lumbermen began logging bald cypress trees because the trunks were knot-free and the wood was highly resistant to rot., Lumber companies built railroads on levees to haul the huge logs out of the swamp. Once the railroads came in, there wasn’t much stopping the harvest of all south Florida’s cypress., Saving Corkscrew’s Legacy a Second Time , In 1952, logging began at the southern end of Corkscrew Swamp. Because this was the largest remaining stand of unlogged old-growth cypress forest, concerned citizens and a coalition of organizations including the National Audubon Society joined forces to save it., Thanks to the willing cooperation of the lumber companies that owned the land and the generous support of donors nationwide, Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary was established in 1954 with 2,880 acres of prime cypress swamp., The trend continues , Since then, the same cooperation and support have enabled the sanctuary to add another 10,680 acres of land, to build , and rebuild , the boardwalk, and to protect the supply of water that gives life to Corkscrew Swamp and the surrounding region., [photo captions] , . Clear cutting , Steam powered logging equipment devours a Corkscrew cypress forest , . The perfect Host , Stands of Bald Cypress host and protect thousands of species, including the wild passion vine (left background image).