The
ocean stirs the heart ~ inspires the imagination ~
and
brings eternal joy to the soul. (Wayland)
Voltaire
states, “The progress of rivers to the ocean is not so rapid as
that of man to error.”
Water
and Air ~ the two essential fluids on which all life depends,
have
become
garbage cans. (Jacques Cousteau)
Life
will let you get away with something for a while,
but
sooner or later, you will pay the price.
Everything
you do in life causes effects that you
experience.
When
you get the bill, be prepared to pay. (Author unknown)
What
Are Mangrove Swamps?
They are coastal wetlands found in tropical and sub-tropical regions
~ salt-loving trees, shrubs and other plants growing in brackish to
saline tidal waters ~ often found in estuaries where fresh water
meets salt water and infamous for their impenetrable maze of woody
vegetation. In North America they are found from the southern tip of
Florida, along the Gulf Coast to Texas. Florida's southwest coast
supports one of the largest 'mangrove swamps' in the world.
Mangroves once covered 3/4 of the world's tropical coastlines.
Only 12 species today live in the Americas.
They range in size from small bushes to the 60-metre giants found in
Ecuador.
The
Yukatan Peninsula:
When in Mexico's northern peninsula a few years ago with an Oakville
friend who yearly spent January and February in Progresso, a small
town, facing the Gulf of Mexico, we visited a few coastal areas in my
2-week vacation each of two years. This was Mayan country, and
although the townspeople spoke 'broken English', they were most
friendly and hospitable. Several times we walked into town...from a
local bar, had lunch and a Corona beer brought to our umbrelled table
on the sandy beach and enjoyed several hours. By bus, a few times we
visited Merida, the capital city of the Yukatan (population of about
900,000). It's a gorgeous colonial-era Mexican city.
Touring around by taxi, we visited a few ancient Mayan cities that
over the past several years, have been discovered ~ hidden in thick
vegetation ~ barely accessible. At Chichen Itza (75 miles from
Merida) it is the most visited Maya ruin. With stairs to the top of
this once Mayan temple, we sat on steps, viewing the surrounding
tropical landscape; with imagination, one's mind recedes into the
lives of yore when native tribes built these cities and with families
resided for many years. When vacated, lush forests with heights and
foliage buried these once vibrant cities.
Along
the coastlines were numerous birds...so amazing to observe the
hundreds of pink flamingos placidly standing in shallow blue waters
of the Gulf; and along a rocky coast were many pelicans, flying in
to watch for a good fish catch. One side-trip by a small sight-seeing
boat, along the west coast took us to a 'mangrove' appearing as a
small island inlet to the lush green forest touched by Nature's hand.
The boatman asked if we'd enjoy a brief swim in this quiet lush
green wilderness. I declined ~ fearing reptiles and gators who
possibly inhabit the waters around this verdant area of trees, plants
and vines. This was the first time I'd seen a mangrove!
You needn't look further south from Florida to experience a
mangrove rehabilitation.
The
Indulgent Voluntourist
“There's
no reason you can't stay in luxury
while being a mangrove rehabilitation voluntourist in Miami.
It's good for you ~ and good for the planet,” writes Steve
MacNaull.
“Feeling
virtuous, my wife and I tuck into the elaborate tasting menu at KYU.
The extravaganza of wine-and-dine at the Asian-inspired barbecue hot
spot in Miami's warehouse-turned hipster justified our stint of
voluntourism earlier in the day. Granted, our hand in 'mangrove
rehabilitation' along the Oleta River15 kilometres away was
short-lived. We spent just a few hours in the morning planting cord
and black needle grasses in the saturated shore bordering the
mangrove.
But that's what voluntourism is all about.
“You
take a sliver of time out of your indulgent holiday to save the
environment...walk rescue dogs...read to under-privileged kids...and
feel better about yourself. It's one of travel's hottest trends.
Give back a little while on vacation.
“Our
voluntourism stint is triggered by a visit to the sleek new 250,000
square-foot, 6-level Frost Museum of Science in downtown Miami. After
admiring hammerhead sharks and schools of tuna through the oculus of
the 500,000-gallon, martini-glass-shaped aquarium and catching the
laser show set to the music of Queen in the planetarium, we find out
about the Frost's volunteer opportunity at its satellite Batchelor
Environment Centre ~ located on Biscayne Bay campus of Florida
International University adjacent to the formerly wrecked red
mangrove along the Oleta River.
Infill, invasive Australian pine trees and litter overtook the site
before Frost showed up with armies of volunteers to make it right
again!
“Usually,
it's locals who give of their time to pick up garbage, rip out
invasive species and plant native grasses, shrubs and trees.
Increasingly, tourists are jumping on the band wagon, inspired by a
visit to Frost and hearing how
mangroves are essential to Florida's marine environment.”
“Mangroves
are superstars,” says Fernando Bretos, the museum's curator of
field conservation, as if he's referring to Beyonce and Jay-Z. “They
maintain healthy water...provide habitat for water and air
species...and protect against high sea levels and hurricanes. We
could simply hire a contractor to do all this work,” he said, “but
inspiring locals and tourists alike to get involved, gives them a
chance to see firsthand how important mangroves are.”
“On
the day my wife and I drop by, there are 40 volunteers ~ planting
grasses, beach creeper and ferns on the brackish water's edge and
blackbead and cocoplum shrubs and green buttonwood trees.
Mangroves are actually the trees that can grow in a couple of feet
of salt or brackish (a mix of salt and fresh) water.
“The
trees and associated swampy shoreline vegetation are essential in
attracting manatees, bull sharks, crocodiles, stingrays, barracuda,
snapper, tar and mullet to the waters. Crabs, lizards and raccoons to
the land. Bald eagles and ospreys in search of prey. All
of these species have returned to this stretch of the mangrove,
thanks to Frost and volunteers.
“Bretos
hands us trowels and dozens of bunches of cord and black needle
grasses to plant in the soppy soil at the mangrove's edge. We're
happy to get our sneakers and knees wet and our hands dirty!
We're also happy to spend the rest of the time at our luxurious
hotel.”
Scripted by Merle Baird-Kerr...April 8, 2018
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