Despite the logging and other human impacts, the preserve is recovering well. It is an intact ecosystem that attracts many types of wildlife. Wading bird rookeries are used by wood storks, a variety of egrets and white ibis. Threatened Florida scrub-jays inhabit scrub and scrubby flatwoods. A small population of insect-eating hooded pitcher plants marks one of the southernmost occurrences of these rare plants in the United States. As a plateau above surrounding areas, the Green Swamp region is an important physiographic feature of Florida. Its 560,000 acres of wetlands, flatlands and low ridges are bounded by prominent sandy ridgelines. Rainwater drains across the surface to create the headwaters of four major rivers: the Withlacoochee, the Ocklawaha, the Hillsborough and the Peace. Because the Green Swamp region is elevated above outlying areas and the underground aquifer rises very close to the land surface, the region functions as the pressure head for the aquifer. Protecting the Green Swamp is vital to protecting the quality and quantity of Florida’s water supply. Recognizing the statewide significance of this area, the state of Florida in 1974 designated 322,000 acres of the Green Swamp region as an Area of Critical State Concern.
This is a Letterbox Hybrid cache. For anyone not familiar with Letterboxing there is a log in the box for you to sign and stamp (with your stamp), then you stamp your own log or paper (with stamp that is in the box). If you do not have your own stamp, then stickers or handrawn artwork is acceptable. DO NOT TAKE STAMP WITH YOU; IT IS NOT A TRADE ITEM!!!
Cache placed with permission