The philosophy and ethos of Apalachee Ventures is based on the spirit of the Apalachee people and the competition embodied in the process of natural selection in our diverse natural world, exemplified by the Apalachicola River Basin. The firm concentrates its involvement on organizations and companies that demonstrate a fierce determination to thrive while maintaining respect for the natural world on which we all depend, the communities in which we all live, and building value while operating in an ethical manner to benefit humankind.
The Apalachee were an advanced people who were native to the modern day Panhandle region of North Florida. They thrived in this resource-rich area for centuries before the Spanish arrived in the mid-1500's. The Apalachee culture was a proud one that emphasized the importance of the natural world, celebrated the spirit of competition and recognized the crucial benefits of trade.
The Apalachicola River and Apalachicola Bay region, the original home of the Apalachee, is one of the most biodiverse in the world. Its ecosystem supports more than 1,500 species of native plants and animals, and has the highest species diversity of reptiles and amphibians in North America. Cooperation through symbiotic relationships allows nature to flourish here, and is fundamentally important as thousands of species grow and prosper together.
Today, the Apalachicola River Basin drains a watershed of approximately 20,000 square miles and is recognized as one of the few biodiversity hotspots in the U.S. The Apalachicola River has the largest volume of water flow in Florida and is bordered by the Apalachicola National Forest, one of the largest contiguous plots of public land east of the Mississippi River. Serving as a bridge between the Apalachicola River and the Gulf of Mexico is Apalachicola Bay, which historically has produced some 15% of all the oysters harvested in the U.S. annually and has been one of the most abundant fisheries in the United States.
