Read about the importance of conserving our ecosystems and what everyday folk can do to help.
St. Augustine’s nearly pristine estuarine habitat is precious because this type of environment has been destroyed in so many other places. Particularly in Florida and other coastal communities near the lowlands.
We now know that wetlands help solve the climate crisis by taking carbon out of the air. They also help bring back to life degraded land that once did important things for the survival of the human species. Wetland restoration also fixes the many environmental problems that people have caused by destroying their habitats.
We can see from data that can’t be argued with and long-term forecasting models that if we don’t listen to the scientists at organizations like our own GTM Reserve and all of its local, state, federal, national, municipal, and private sector partners, humanity will face bigger problems and existential threats if we don’t listen to them.
The GTM Reserve in St Augustine is a unique coastal ecosystem with oysters, sea grasses, mangroves and other important habitats that require ongoing conservation efforts. Our eco tour guides must understand the importance of preserving these habitats if we are to avoid their destruction due to erosion and other factors. Tourists are always eager to learn about the wildlife of the area, as well as what they can do to help conserve these fragile environments.
Guests can participate in oyster bed restorations with local organizations, or spend time at our beach and park preserves cleaning up litter and safeguarding seagrass beds from destruction. We hope that by offering this educational blog series to train new kayak eco tour guides, they will be knowledgeable when leading tours and capable of providing accurate, informative messages about why it’s critical that we all band together to preserve the coastal habitats at the GTM Reserve for future generations.
Exploring the three estuarine, inland coastal, and tidal basins in the GTM Reserve is a unique way to learn about all the different animals that live in these important ecosystems. It’s important for us all to be aware of how our actions can greatly impact delicate coastal habitats like this. Without proper conservation efforts, land can erode drastically and local wildlife can be threatened.
As kayak eco tour guides, it’s essential that we make sure our guests understand not only the importance of protecting these areas but also ways they can help contribute towards sustainability by following Leave No Trace principles, such as disposing of their trash properly and taking steps to reduce their carbon footprint. It’s an honor to be able to show people around this incredible ecosystem – let’s use our knowledge to help spread awareness and protection!