The Willoughby Expedition
An Over 130 Mile Coast to Coast Canoe Expedition Across the Largest Remaining Subtropical Wilderness in America
In recognition of the 125th Anniversary of Hugh Willoughby’s daring Everglades crossing and the 75th Anniversary of the creation of Everglades National Park.
Pollution in general, but microplastics and PFAS perfluorochemicals, in particular, threaten every part of our planet. It’s a global problem that requires global cooperation.
The 2022 Willoughby Expedition will sample and test the same water constituents that Willoughby tested One hundred twenty-five years ago to compare water chemistry changes that have occurred since the human impact on the Everglades ecosystem commenced in the late 19th Century. Most importantly, the 2022 Willoughby Expedition will sample and test for microplastics, a pollutant that Willoughby could not have foreseen and one that is adversely affecting plant and animal species globally.
The Florida Everglades is one of the most significant wetlands in the world, recognized by UNESCO as a Wetland Area of Global Importance. Its ecosystem form is not found anywhere else on Earth.
Historically, the Everglades stretched from modern-day Orlando on the north to Florida Bay on the south. Through large-scale 20th-century drainage and reclamation programs, the size of the Everglades has been reduced by approximately two-thirds of its original size.
Some parts have been drained, and other parts flooded. With over 21 million people living in Florida, most of which are located in and around the historical Everglades, the Florida Everglades has been and continues to be heavily impacted by human activity.
“The Willoughby Expedition team has helped bring awareness to over 50 of its partners’ major conservation goals. They inspire everyone to care for the largest remaining subtropical wilderness in America.”
The Willoughby Expedition is made possible by the following generous sponsors
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