Journal 7 Downtown

 Field Trip 3 CREW 

From each station I learned the importance of having dedicated land to our environment as it allows space for animals to live in peace, a place for water to be stored and slowly reenter the surounding ecosystem without flooding, and act as a space for learning and mental wellness. Like how the pinewood flats are burned every so often to reduce over growth and return nutrients to the soil. Or the seasonal/sawgrass marsh and how it regulated the water into the earth to be absorbed by different environments. They also both act as areas for wild birds, panthers, fish, and more organisms to thrive.

Nothin too specific I learned, mostly just about each type of environemnt contained within the CREW watershead.

Each group had a different SDG our group was #11 sustainable cities and communities. We talked about how not every spot on earth can be an urban slum. And the CREW area allows a place for water to congregate without flooding or causing damage, as well as, a place for animals to not be harmed by running around neighborhoods.

To quote the assignment our group submited "Team 2 was given SDG #12: responsible production and consumption. That entails limiting the amount of materials we consume so that we are able to continue our way of life, and ensure future generations are able to survive. How this relates to CREW is that its landscape is broken up into different regions from trails, hunting grounds, and animal sanctuaries it becomes a place where we humans can use the space for mental wellness and learning about the ecosystem without harming the ecosystem.

   Team 3 was assigned SDG goal #13: ‘Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.’  The CREW Land & Water Trust employs prescribed burns and various other methods of maintaining areas that it manages across the Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed.  By maintaining CREW, climate change has a less significant effect on human and natural environments and can be combated much more effectively.  For instance, the watershed provides a significant amount of water storage that is vital both for flood mitigation and natural aquifers to restore their reserves of clean water.  Prescribed burns allow nutrients to be brought back into the soil, bringing forth new and healthy vegetation afterwards.  This vegetation can then participate in the carbon cycle and aid in reducing the amount of carbon emissions left in the atmosphere after being produced by industrial processes.

   Team 4 had the SDG #14: life below water. A primary point of the CREW location is the fact that it’s a watershed. That means that it is important to focus on the water aspect of the environment. They chose this sustainable development goal because the animals in the area cannot be safe and healthy without keeping a safe environment for them. It is important to the location that they keep their waters clean and healthy for the life that “lives below the water” The nature guide, Piper, Explained how CREW purifies the water and makes sure it stays in good condition for both humans and animals in the location.

   Team 5 was given SDG #15: life on land, which has the goal of protecting ecosystems on land, the life outside of the water, and managing/preventing deforestation. They talked about how CREW does prescribed burns throughout the year to keep balance in the ecosystem, as some larger flora will take over and snuff out smaller plant species if not kept in check. The burning also returns nutrients to the soil and allows pinecones to open for pine trees to reproduce. Furthermore, the marsh is a place for water to be slowly released back into the area without flooding or water overflow for the plant species that require less water. If the marsh wasn’t there the flooding could erode the area, force animals to relocate, and make areas unusable for wildlife".

My learning experience from the team discusions at the end is that while each station we experienced has its own place in the ecosytem, they all tie together to form a symbiotic relationship. Also, each SDG that each group presented had a connection to CREW and sustainability efforts.