SARASOTA – Environmental advocacy organization Suncoast Waterkeeper has a new program for citizens to report potential mangrove trimming violations.
Altering mangroves without a permit and excessive trimming of both dead and live mangroves may be reported at https://www.suncoastwaterkeeper.org/eyes_on_the_suncoast
Suncoast Waterkeeper also invites volunteers to “Become a Mangrove Ranger and help us inventory vulnerable mangroves,” according its website. “One of the most important ecosystems on our coasts is mangrove forests. Unfortunately, mangroves in Manatee County are under enormous development pressure. Using drones annually, we aim to map the extent and health of mangroves in vulnerable areas. We need your help!”
The organization is assembling three to five teams of four people to map mangroves. Each team will consist of a licensed drone pilot, a boat owner, a spotter (no experience necessary) and a data manager.
A training meeting will be held on Saturday, Jan. 20 from 9:30-11 a.m. at the Bahia Mar West Marina, 6918 14th St. W. Bradenton. Attendees will be assigned to a team and will be given instructions and a location for conducting the first mangrove mapping project, along with scheduling the first drone flight.
More details are available at https://www.suncoastwaterkeeper.org/mangrove_rangers
Before you trim
Mangrove trimming applications must be submitted to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) prior to mangrove trimming or alteration.
The 1996 Mangrove Trimming and Preservation Act defines a mangrove as any specimen of the species – white, red or black mangrove. The law doesn’t distinguish between living and dead mangroves so the same trimming regulations apply to each.
“Mangroves are important for many reasons, and mangrove trimming is regulated under the Mangrove Act,” according to the FDEP website. “Mangroves serve as a key ecological component in several ecosystems, including serving as a nursery for many game and sport fisheries.”
SW_ERP@FloridaDEP.gov is the southwest Florida email address to apply for mangrove trimming applications.
The full text of the Mangrove Trimming and Preservation Act is available at https://floridadep.gov/sites/default/files/mtpa96_0.pdf
Citizens who would like to report potential violations directly to the FDEP may do so at https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/4931167/Citizen-Concern-Form.
