Check Out What We're Up To!
As a non-profit organization with our hands in a broad array of different environmental fields, we try and align our focus with partners and research opportunities that share our passions and goals. With so many incredible organizations here in Miami and all of South Florida, the opportunities to involve ourselves - but more importantly allow others to involve themselves - has been truly inspiring.
The Evolution of Darwin Beach
Ever-growing and expanding, the invasive and exotic vegetation currently inhabiting Darwin Beach – such as Beach naupaka (Scaevola taccada), Latherleaf (Colubrina asiatica), and Australian Pine (Casuarina equisetifolia) – have not only prohibited the native species such as Seagrape (Coccoloba uvifera) and Green Buttonwood (Conocarpus erectus) from surviving, but have completely disrupted the beach ecosystem.
How it Started...
Starting in 2019, with the help of the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School - along with Miami Seaquarium, Salt Waterfront Restaurant and Fillabag - MORAES began removing these invasive and exotic species and replacing them with native ones to eventually restore this coastal habitat and accurately represent a healthy coastal upland natural community. Additionally, each planting and removal session has been (and will continue to be) accompanied by a campus shoreline marine debris cleanup.
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How it's Going...
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> 12
Large Australian Pines
Removed
> 500 cubic yds
Invasive Vegetation
Removed
> 1200 lbs
Marine Debris
Removed
Now native species have the opportunity to flourish. Volunteers planted native coastal strand and dune species such as beach sunflower (Helianthus debilis) and sea oats (Uniola paniculata) in place of the removed non-native vegetation. These species are are the closest to the water, which means they have to be hardy species! The plant communities here need to withstand the high-energy shoreline with events such as wave and tide action, sand burial, and salt spray. In addition to providing habitat for native species, natural vegetation provides terrain stability by creating a buffer against waves, wind and tidal fluxes during storms.
Meet the Locals
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Invasive plants are a leading cause of native biodiversity loss and have the potential to not only create a monoculture, but habitat loss altogether.
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