Sipsey Wilderness Research Paper

The Sipsey wilderness fits two of the ten UNESCO criteria for international heritage status. It fits criteria nine and ten. “(ix) to be outstanding examples representing significant on-going ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, fresh water, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals. And (x) to contain the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation (The Criteria for Selection.)” The Sipsey wilderness contains a varied and amazing number of different location and environments, unique forest
and geological formation to wildlife species that are rare and live only in the Sipsey area. “ The Sipsey Wilderness is located in northwest Alabama at the juncture of three separate geologic areas: the Appalachian Plateau, the Cumberland Plateau and the Coastal Plain. The vegetation from these three unique environments blend into a remarkable diversity of species, with overlapping ranges creating many unusual plant associations. The Sipsey is a 12,726 acre area of swift streams, waterfalls, sandstone cliffs, undisturbed gorges, majestic hardwood forests, wildflowers, birds and animals (Sipsey Wilderness.) “ The Sipsey wilderness area, with its unique, varied and threatened ecosystem and wildlife is in need of protection from UNESCO.
The Sipsey area is home to many types of creatures including a unique and large population of mussels. With 37 different species recorded in the Sipsey's river ways and streams. “ This represents one of the best remaining and most intact mussel communities left in the United States. These mussels have interesting names, such as the southern fatmucket, yellow sandshell, and Alabama orb. Freshwater mussels thrive in free-flowing riverine habitats with clean water and gravel bottoms. These conditions remain on the Sipsey River because there are no major dams. Also, many areas of the Sipsey retain their swampy bottomland forest floodplains. Such areas help remove silt and pollutants from runoff during rain events and maintain good water quality in the river (Sipsey
River.)” “ The Sipsey River also provides refuge and habitat for about 102 species of freshwater fishes which include darters, gars, shad, shiners, and suckers. Several rare fish of the Sipsey River may eventually qualify for special conservation status, the southern walleye and America eel. Popular sportfish species include largemouth bass, spotted bass, catfish, crappie, pickerel, and various sunfish (bream). Wandering through Fayette, Tuscaloosa, Pickens and Greene counties, this 92-mile long river is estimated to contain approximately 50,000 acres of bottomland wetlands and swamps, which ranks it as one of the State’s largest wetland regions. The vegetation and trees are diverse and varied, ranging from bald cypress swamps to tupelo gum trees, swamp cottonwood, southern red oak, American elm, sweetgum, yellow popular and American beec (Sipsey River.) “ The Sipsey is also home to many geologically fascinating area's. “ The caves, cliffs, bluffs and gorges cut out of the sandstone bedrock are distinct features of the Sipsey Wilderness. In the lower portions of the watershed, streams have cut deep enough (300 to 500 feet) to reveal a limestone formation. These geologic features, along with the fossils captured in them, portray the timeless and intractable side of nature (Sipsey Wilderness) “ Some of the caves are the home to art carved by prehistoric peoples “ Petroglyphs, the art forms that prehistoric man carved in the rocks, have been documented on the walls of a bluff shelter just outside the Wilderness boundary. Although no petroglyphs have yet been inventoried in the Wilderness, it is probable that some exist and require protection (Sipsey Wilderness.)” The large diversity of features of the Sipsey area are important to protect given the uniqueness of the area. The Sipsey wilderness area contains a large number of unique and endangered species' of many verity from many different taxon.
It is host to the black warrior waterdog, necturus alabamensis, a medium-sized perennibranch salamander. Who's habitat is restricted to the black warrior river basin where it gets its name. The definition of an endangered species by the IUCN is, ''A. Reduction in population size, B. limited Geographic range, C. Population size estimated to number fewer than 2,500 mature individuals, D. Population size estimated to number fewer than 250 mature individuals and E. Quantitative analysis showing the probability of extinction in the wild is at least 20% within 20 years or five generations (The
IUCN.)'' Under this definition the black warrior waterdog is a candidate for classification as an endangered species of salamander. As shown by the research of Michelle C. Durflinger Moreno, Craig Guyer and Mark A. Bailey, “ This permanently aquatic salamander is restricted to scattered locations within the Upper Black Warrior River drainage of northwestern Alabama (p02)'' This show the salamander is wholly unique to the area and is rare even then. By Bailey's research '' However, our data indicate that this species is present in 23% of streams and 12% of localities within this range (p10).'' The area also hosts a unique number of tree species including the Carex roanensis a species of sedge commonly know as Roan Mountain sedge. The research by Tyler W. Smith and Marcia J. Waterway gives credit '' Our results strongly support the recognition of C.roanensis as a species, distinct from C.virescens and C.aestivalis. It is clearly separated from C.aestivalis (p07).'' This is just a small sample of the available information on the unique number species that make up the Sipsey wilderness ecosystem. If the area is not protected there will be an unfortunate loss of a fascinating number of species. The Sipsey area is one of Alabama's largest natural floodplains and host to a large number of different animals that are unique to Alabama. Loosing the area would mean a loss of unique biodiversity for the world. It would also negatively impact the surrounding ecosystems. With the Sipsey floodplains no longer cleaning and filtering water it would put extra stress on the surrounding habitats and impact the biodiversity and ecosystems there as well, irreparably changing the biodiversity of the Alabama area. With Alabama's climate temperament being completely unique in the united states and the only comparable county being Vietnam, though the two have completely different biodiversity. It would be a terrible loss of individuality to the world.

The Sipsey is also among Alabama's best natural hiking trails and is well known throughout Alabama for its beautiful spring wildflower display. It is also host to “Several species of sensitive plants that exist within the Sipsey and on adjacent portions of the National Forest (Sipsey Wilderness.) ” The Sipsey outshines Oak Mountain state park for raw beauty and the state of its environment. The Sipsey brings in a large number of visitors per year but it may be to much for Sipsey to take, according to the “ U.S. Forest Service sources, a visitor count currently estimated at 10,000 a year may be more than the region's fragile ecosystem can withstand (Bledsoe.) ” Federal protection has helped to maintain the Sipsey area but more funding would ensure that endangered species like the black warrior waterdog are protected in the future. It would also keep the hiking trails preserved and let the park rangers better monitor visitors to reduce impact on the Sipsey environment. Because of this it is important to preserve this diverse and special place in Alabama so that the future generations of the world can enjoy the rare and unique life the Sipsey offers.

One world heritage site similar to Sipsey wilderness in Alabama is the Los Katíos National Park located in north-western Colombia in South America. The two parks share a diversity of wildlife that are unique to each and would be irreplaceable if lost. The uniqueness of each is apparent, in Los Katios “ The park is home to around 450 species of birds, some 25% and 50% respectively of the avifaunas of Colombia and Panama. Los Katíos is unique in South America for the large number of typically Central American species found in the park. It is the only protected area in this region of Colombia and is therefore the last refuge for many species which would otherwise become extinct. The park is also home to several threatened species. Around 20% of plant species occurring in the park are endemic to the Chocó-Darien region (Los Katíos National Park.) ” The species in the Sipsey are just as numerous and unique as has been shown in this paper.

Hopefully It is now plainly apparent how important the Sipsey wilderness is to save for the world as a heritage site and what the world will gain from protecting this area in Alabama. The protection of rare and endangered species of plant and animal life as well as unique geological formation and forests and there careful conservation for future generations is an important goal of the UNESCO foundation. Protecting this area would further the goals of UNESCO in saving important wilderness areas and building peace in the minds of men and women.