Many years ago, in the reaches of Western Kentucky & Tennessee, the wetlands were being removed at an alarming rate! One major deep slough area existed in which there remained some immensely large stands of trees of Bald Cypress. As the men came to cut in the last stage of cypress, three trees came into sight, each one consecutively larger than the one before. An old Indian named Ol'Cypress, who lived in the wetlands came out to try to stop the cut. He said the land was tired and these three trees should stay as guardians of the swamp. "If you cut all the trees and leave none, the land will rebel", he said.
The cutters would not be stopped and pushed the old man aside. For days they cut and cut. As the first tree fell, the ground shook! The second tree was later cut after an week of hacking and sawing. Again, the ground shook harder and this time longer! The cutters left the wetlands in fear of the shaking but vouldn't help thinking of the big olast remaining cypress, named 'Old Fortress' by the wise indian.
So later, they just couldn't get it out of their system! Yes, the last log was left and the one remaining was immense, they just had to return, Som they returned to chop down Old Fortress. They cut and cut. Curious water mocossins were drawn to the area in thick numbers. Swarms of mosquitos fogged the group but the cutters were intent to take. The crew would not be stopped. Eventually, after a month, as Fortress began to fall, the ground gave way and the ground shook - oh no, an earthquake! It's action so great that the river itself chaged course!
People from all around wondered what had happened and they sought out the wise Indian for answers. Ol' Cypress said, "This is a sign from the land and the mother river. Man must not forget about the value of the land, water, plants and animals. I feel a harbinger will be coming in the future to bring men together so that he could find harmony with nature and himself. The two must become "mature"(man+nature), a state of becoming in which man has a secure feeling with nature when doing work
And so it is, you see, that Swampy comes to you to tell you the truth - that wetlands are valuable and serve functions and services that are often taken for granted! When one looks to hunt or fish, he can often find the presence of productive wetlands. When we enjoy seafood, for example, there is a wonderful delicate foodchain that is in place that begins in the land, rivers & estuaries (lands between freshwater and saltwater) and continues in marine (water with higher amounts of salt) waters. And finally, wetlands of the rainforest hold potential treasures for the future as sources & sinks with potential cures for many diseases.
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learn more about SWAMPY and the important parts of his vision - of bringing it all together: Soils, Water, Animals, Mankind, Plantsand You!to make our world better for you and your children!
click above left to visit my SWAMPYshop, a website available on cafepress.com for you to show your support for wetlands & as a way to help fund this important mission! If you want to personalize you items on the SWAMPYshop on cafepress, please send me an email 2 cafepress@swampy.org,
to visit my Web site devoted to a past visit to the state with the most amount of wetlands in the U.S. -Alaska!,
