Florida bill seeks to boost mangroves

Share
estuary plant
Red mangrove. By Seán Kinane/WMNF News, 2009.

Sen. Ileana Garcia, R-Miami, is again seeking to bolster the state’s mangroves to help protect barrier islands and aid restoration of Biscayne Bay.

Garcia on Thursday filed a bill (SB 32) that calls for the Department of Environmental Protection to work with local governments on identifying vulnerable coastal areas for mangrove restoration and planting efforts.

The bill is filed for the 2024 legislative session, which will start in January.

Garcia also has sought to pass such bills the past two years.

“Putting mangrove in statutes just helps to ensure that the restoration efforts are properly funded,” Garcia said in March when a similar proposal was before a Senate committee.

While Florida since 1996 has protected mangroves from unregulated removal and destruction, the Florida Marine Research Institute said mangrove loss has reached up to 86 percent in some areas since the 1940s.

Mangroves provide natural protection against rising seas during hurricanes, absorb carbon-dioxide emissions and trap pollutants that would otherwise end up in estuaries and coastal waters.

©2023 The News Service of Florida

You may also like

Tropical Storm Rafael forms, watches issued for parts of Florida

Tropical Storm Rafael could reach category two hurricane status just...

Talking Animals: veteran advocate delivers anatomy of a victorious, major animal rights campaign

Jodie Wiederkehr, Executive Director of Chicago Alliance for Animals ...

Fascist violence and the truth laid bare

Commemorative in Ocoee, FL marking racist election day violence in...

The 2024 Veganic Summit with Meg Kelly

Join Anni and Tanja to discuss organic gardening, farming and...

Ways to listen

WMNF is listener-supported. That means we don't advertise like a commercial station, and we're not part of a university.

Ways to support

WMNF volunteers have fun providing a variety of needed services to keep your community radio station alive and kickin'.

Follow us on Instagram

The Morning Show Tuesday
Player position: