Program Background
Mangroves are an integral part of our environment. They are a vital source of energy, provide a nursery habitat for juvenile fish, a nesting habitat for wading birds, stabilize shorelines by reducing erosion, provide water quality management, and are a buffer against storm damage. Many people are familiar with these iconic trees, but few may understand how tightly linked they are to the marine ecosystem in Southwest Florida.
Coastal Watch's goal with this program is to teach the value of mangroves on our islands through community involvement. Through this education initiative, “Adopt-A-Mangrove,” Coastal Watch is inviting residents to “adopt” their own mangrove to nurture at their homes.
Our goal for our participants and community is to instill a deeper understanding and appreciation of mangroves in Southwest Florida. We’re inviting community members to participate! We will be distributing starter kits so that participants can grow a mangrove at home until it is ready to be planted at a local restoration site during a community planting event later this year.
We Need You!
Are you ready to make a difference in your community and protect our beautiful shoreline? Coastal Watch invites you to take part in our exciting Adopt-A-Mangrove program. By "adopting" mangroves and nurturing them in your own homes, you can contribute to the restoration of our local ecosystems. The mangroves you care for will eventually be returned to SCCF and planted at one of our shoreline restoration sites later this year.
If you're eager to become a proud "Mangrove Mama" or a dedicated "Propagule Papa," mark your calendars for these upcoming Adopt-A-Mangrove events! SCCF will provide you with the mangrove seedling, soil, and a pot to get you started.
Coastal Watch Director, Kealy McNeal, emphasizes the importance of this initiative:
"It's undeniable that mangroves played a crucial role in protecting Sanibel during Hurricane Ian, and unfortunately, several mangroves throughout the area were lost and need to be restored. The Adopt-A-Mangrove program is just the beginning of the process to restore our shorelines."
Join us in preserving the beauty of Sanibel's coastlines – one mangrove at a time.
