When people think of the Florida Everglades, they typically think of an alligator-infested bog, a blanching sun, swarms of mosquitos; adjectives like peaceful, beautiful, and inspiring rarely come to mind. GoNature conservation is dedicated to reshaping the way people view this immense landscape that has existed long before the sprawling urban areas that crown it on either coast of South Florida; we hope that by sharing our love, others will be compelled to join us in our conservation efforts, even if only in small ways like refraining from littering.
It is a sad reality that human activities threaten the everglades in a multitude of ways - whether by large projects like the development of major roads crossing directly through the heart of the Everglades and impeding its natural water flow; or by small individual actions which add up to a catastrophic final result like the release of non-native pets in the everglades or the feeding of wildlife. Whether you admire Danny's impactful portraiture of South Florida wildlife, or you decide to volunteer your time on something like a surveying trip and witness the majesty of the Everglades for yourself, we hope you come away with an increased appreciation for the complex and delicate ecosystem and an increased respect for the individual animals that populate it.
Fortunately, wildlife biologists and engineers are making concerted efforts to mitigate the effects of our past actions, such as by elevating sections of Tamiami trail to restore the natural flow of water from lake Okeechobee to the ocean or by tracking and capturing invasive Burmese pythons. But we believe small scale efforts are critical as well, and we hope our drop in the bucket will inspire others to want to care for the vibrant, humming ecosystem that exists in Florida's interior.
"There are no other Everglades in the world. They are, they have always been, one of the unique regions of the Earth; remote, never wholly known. Nothing anywhere else is like them." -Marjory Stoneman Douglas
Yours in Conservation,
Alec Collado
A picture is worth a thousand words. That is my focus in documenting and photographing the beautiful animals that live in our parks, oceans, skies, backyards, and all around us. In photographing the spectacular scenery that my home state of Florida (and elsewhere) has to offer, I hope to highlight what would be lost if we do not do our job in conservation. It is an unfortunate truth that humans often fail to realize what they are at risk of losing until is too late, and avoiding the loss of our ecosystems is a matter of habit rather than momentary action. For this reason, conservation is not just for the scientist and politicians, conservation is and should always be a longitudinal, grassroots effort made at every level of society. It is my sincerest hope that by exposure to the natural world, through the lens of a camera or otherwise, we might be compelled to act in the best interest of the environment.
Those of us that live in the cities of South Florida often take for granted the beauty and role of the Florida Everglades—despite the fact it is a short drive from us. GoNature wants to make sure we do our part in protecting, preserving, and advocating for nature and the environment, so that we can continue to enjoy the fresh air we breathe and the quality of life we have. If not for us, then for our future generations to one day be able to have the air; land; and oceans we currently enjoy, and to set an example for them so that they might preserve these treasures with the appropriate care and respect.
Those of us that live in the cities of South Florida often take for granted the beauty and role of the Florida Everglades—despite the fact it is a short drive from us. GoNature wants to make sure we do our part in protecting, preserving, and advocating for nature and the environment, so that we can continue to enjoy the fresh air we breathe and the quality of life we have. If not for us, then for our future generations to one day be able to have the air; land; and oceans we currently enjoy, and to set an example for them so that they might preserve these treasures with the appropriate care and respect.
Education is vital to the success of conservation. I hope to accomplish through my work with photography and on the ground efforts the development of more mindful and environmentally conscience individuals of all ages. That, to me, is the basis of conservation at the grassroots level—widespread awareness of the magnificent creatures roaming our planet and the beautiful views to be observed.
Yours in Conservation,
Danny Aguas
Why Conservation is important to me:
I have been naturally attracted to the study of Marine Biology and that of Zoology, especially the field of Herpetology which deals with reptiles and amphibians, since I was in Elementary school. I went on to read dozens of books on the subject and perform different small experiments and projects as I advanced in my understanding of animals. I would purposely go into places looking for animals and identifying the different species anywhere I travel, especially outside of South Florida. I have been handling frogs, lizards, and snakes since I was 4 years old and want to make sure they are still around when I have kids and when one day my kids have their own kids. Conservation is a collective effort, it cannot be fully accomplished if more of us don't take the lead and do our part. I'm hoping to do my part, will you help our planet in doing yours?
Current "on the ground" Conservation Project(s):
Python Removal from the Florida Everglades
The Florida Wildlife Commission (FWC) and the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) both have programs to help reduce the invasive species and hopefully one day eradicate it from South Florida. They pay Python removal agents (hunters) to capture and euthanize (humanly) python species in the wild. The most common species is the Burmese Python. I applied for the FWC program but there have been no vacancies and the SFWMD program is not accepting new applications but nevertheless I have been going to the Everglades to look for Pythons to help the fight in preserving and protecting that fragile ecosystem.
You can read more about why the Python in the Everglades is a major issue by visiting the FWC website directly below:
Ongoing Projects:
-Photography of animals and natural landscapes
-Python Removal in the Florida Everglades
-Conservation and Zoology informative talks with youth
-Parent & youth guided tours to Big Cypress and the Everglades
-Surveying of reptiles and amphibians that have become roadkill on Everglades National Park Main Road (NPS) Homestead Entrance
-Surveying of species for FWC and Florida Wildlife Management Areas (WMA)
Future Project(s):
-High School Volunteer Opportunities for Beach and Park cleanups
-Youth Educational Everglades trips to view flora and fauna
Donating:
Please consider donating if you like our work as it helps with camera / field equipment, photo cloud storage, travel to shoots, and with our conservation efforts. Any help is greatly appreciated and welcomed. Thank you for your consideration.
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