A Walk Through Wild Florida: Gatorland and Conservation Florida Unite for Earth Month
This Earth Month, something meaningful is taking shape in Florida!
Gatorland and Gatorland Global have teamed up with Conservation Florida to shine a spotlight on one of Florida’s most important and misunderstood ecosystems: swamps.
Stepping Into the Past…And Protecting the Future
Tucked inside Gatorland’s 125-acre park is a rare experience: the Swamp Walk. First opened in 1978, this half-mile boardwalk winds through a preserved wetland that looks much like Florida did before widespread development reshaped the landscape.
Photo credit: Sandra Friend, Florida Hikes
Today, it’s home to bobcats, otters, deer, snakes, turtles, fish, and countless birds, offering visitors a living snapshot of wild Florida right in the heart of Orlando.
But peaceful spots like these are getting farther and fewer between.
Florida’s wild places are disappearing at an alarming rate. What remains is critical not only for wildlife, but for people, too.
Why Swamps Matter More Than You Think
As part of this Earth Month collaboration, Gatorland has unveiled new educational signage throughout the Swamp Walk, developed in collaboration with Conservation Florida. These updates help visitors understand the real value of wetlands:
Storm protection: Swamps act like natural buffers, reducing flooding and storm surge impacts.
Clean water: Wetlands filter pollutants, helping protect the water Floridians rely on every day.
Wildlife habitat: From apex predators to tiny amphibians, swamps support an incredible web of life.
In short: When we protect swamps, we protect Florida.
Conservation That Works
Since 1999, Conservation Florida has protected roughly 45,000 acres across all 67 counties, safeguarding the lands and waters that make Florida home. Through strategic, science-based conservation, the organization turns every $1 donated into $36 worth of protected land.
That’s real, measurable impact.
And it’s all with the help of friends like Gatorland!
Experience It for Yourself
This Earth Month, visitors are invited to explore the Swamp Walk and experience it for yourself.
Because once you’ve walked through a real Florida swamp and seen what remains, it’s hard not to care about what happens next.
in case you missed it:
About Conservation Florida:
Conservation Florida is an accredited, nonprofit land conservancy dedicated to conserving the Sunshine State’s water, wildlife, wild places — the places that make Florida home. Since its founding in 1999, Conservation Florida has saved nearly 45,000 acres, serving all 67 counties in Florida, by prioritizing strategic and evidence-based land protection, education, and advocacy. Learn more at conservationfla.org and follow us on social media @conservationflorida.
