Live Wildly Explores the Okefenokee Swamp to Discover Natural Connections Between Wildlife, Places, and People

Four-day paddling adventure will journey through nation's largest blackwater swamp

TAMPA, FLORIDA / ACCESSWIRE / December 9, 2024 / Explorers with Live Wildly, a non-profit dedicated to raising public awareness of the importance of wildlife corridor conservation, will spend four days paddling nearly 50 miles across the Okefenokee Swamp to discover the animals, ecosystems, and people that bridge the geographic boundaries between Florida and Georgia.

During the journey, Live Wildly explorers will look for such species as black bear, Gopher tortoise, and red-cockaded woodpeckers to demonstrate the vital importance of protecting natural corridors across Georgia and Florida.

"Nature doesn't recognize geo-political boundaries," said Aaron Rickel Jones, Live Wildly's communications director. "Wildlife doesn't know when it crosses over state lines. Collaborative land management practices across counties and states will ensure these ecosystems remain intact and connected for generations to come."

Sara Sheehy, Live Wildly's Lead Adventurist, added: "At Live Wildly, we work to connect people to the wild places around them. We can only protect what we love, and we love what we can experience and understand."

The Okefenokee Swamp is one of the most intact and untouched wetlands in the world. Covering nearly 700 square miles, it serves as the headwaters for the Suwannee and St. Marys rivers and provides habitat to more than 400 animal species and more than 600 plant species. The vast majority of the swamp lies within Georgia, but with Florida's Osceola National Forest directly south of the swamp, there is a natural connection into the Florida Wildlife Corridor which stretches 18 million acres across the Panhandle and down to the Everglades.

Established by state lawmakers in 2021, the Florida Wildlife Corridor is the nation's largest statewide conservation effort of its kind. Many of the animals found in Florida's Wildlife Corridor can also be found in the Okefenokee Swamp, including black bears, American alligators, gopher frogs, and barred owls, among others.

Live Wildly's four-day paddling journey will be guided by Okefenokee Adventures, part of the Okefenokee Swamp Park and Adventures, a non-profit conservation education organization.

"Our mission at Okefenokee Adventures is to provide a deeper connection to nature through ecotourism," said Kim Bednerak, Executive Director of Okefenokee Swamp Park and Adventures. "Sharing the importance of conservation with visitors ensures the Okefenokee Swamp remains an iconic part of America's natural heritage."

Each day, the paddlers will venture through a mosaic of marshes, prairies, and ancient cypress forests before setting up camp to sleep under the stars, listening to the wildlife that surrounds them.

The four-day trip will end in the Suwannee River, home to manatees, alligators, snapping turtles, bald eagles, and gopher tortoises.

Many of the species in the Okefenokee and the Florida Wildlife Corridor face threats from habitat destruction and fragmentation. Florida is one of the fastest growing states in the country with more than 1,200 people moving to the state each day. And with this expanding population comes expanded urban development that threatens to forever erase Florida's natural areas and working lands.

Only about 10 million acres of the Florida Wildlife Corridor are currently conserved with another 8 million considered "opportunity areas" in need of protection.

The paddle expedition is part of Live Wildly's campaign to build a grassroots movement to cherish and protect wild Florida and its natural connections with other states. Live Wildly's first conservation priority is ensuring the full protection of the Florida Wildlife Corridor.

Through partnerships with state parks, communities and other organizations - such as Okefenokee Adventures - Live Wildly wants to inspire people to get outdoors and understand the vital role nature plays in their daily lives.

To learn more about the Live Wildly explorers who are joining the four-day paddling trip, see their bios below.

George McKenzie Jr. is a Live Wildly Adventurist and National Geographic Explorer who uses his camera to advocate for wildlife conservation. He specializes in camera trap photography, and his work showcases natural history and conservation efforts, shining a light on human interests and wildlife narratives worldwide. His storytelling has captured the hearts of diverse audiences and inspired action. George has worked with leading commercial and editorial entities, including FjallRaven, Honda, Tribeca Film Festival, HBO, Nike, National Geographic Magazine, and National Geographic Society. Besides his photographic pursuits, George dedicates himself to education by mentoring young people in his community and beyond, nurturing the next generation of storytellers.

"Embarking on a 4-day, 3-night expedition across the Okefenokee Swamp to the Suwannee River is a dream come true for a wildlife photographer. The swamp is alive with stories-ancient cypress trees draped in Spanish moss, the silent glide of an alligator at sunrise, and the haunting calls of sandhill cranes echoing through the mist. Every corner of the Okefenokee offers the chance to capture moments that connect us to the raw, untamed beauty of this unique ecosystem. It's not just photography; it's a journey into the soul of the wild."

George McKenzie Jr.

Lauren Yoho is a photographer and conservationist, primarily working in her home state of Florida. She has worked in Florida's swamps for years and is excited about expanding her exploration to Georgia, and for the opportunity to take her first expedition in North America's largest blackwater swamp. Lauren is looking forward to seeing wildlife and the abundant plant species native to the Okefenokee. She is most interested in learning more about the threats to the Okefenokee Swamp through water and the surrounding lands.

Aaron Rickel Jones is a documentary filmmaker and the communications director at Live Wildly. He's been telling stories from the mountains and forests for over a decade, focusing his last year of work on exploring Florida's wild lands and natural ecosystems. He is thrilled for the opportunity to bring cameras into one of America's most iconic ecological treasures and explore ways that the Okefenokee Swamp connects to the greater natural landscape of the Southeast.

Sara Sheehy is an adventurer and storyteller with a passion for wild places. As Live Wildly's Lead Adventurist and storytelling director, she crafts stories that help people fall in love with the world around them. Sara's work has supported conservation outcomes for 20 years, including contributing to impact-driven projects with National Geographic Society, The Nature Conservancy, and the Appalachian Mountain Club. Sara is excited to experience the beauty of the Okefenokee Swamp and especially the serenity of sunrises and sunsets from our expedition campsites.

ABOUT LIVE WILDLY FOUNDATION

Founded in 2022, the Live Wildly Foundation applies an entrepreneurial approach to protecting wild Florida while seeking to balance smart growth, a robust economy, and a connected, resilient landscape. Through creating diverse coalitions, fostering collaboration, and empowering stakeholders to advance conservation efforts, Live Wildly strives to achieve a harmonious and sustainable future in which economic prosperity coexists with a thriving and resilient ecological landscape. Their first priority is the Florida Wildlife Corridor. This 18-million-acre wildlife superhighway is a model for public-private partnership, citizen advocacy, and grassroots support. Live Wildly encourages people to ‘Join the Movement' to protect wild Florida. For more information, please visit www.livewildly.com.

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Source: Live Wildly Foundation