Two foundations teamed up on April 20 in the Lower Keys to highlight the importance of mangrove restoration for the Florida Keys’ marine environment.
The groups, CoastLove and Plant A Million Corals (PAMC), challenged community members to find mangrove propagules, or seeds, and bring them to Summerland Farms, where a collection container encourages people to drop off the propagules along with any donations of gardening materials such as pots and soil.
At the April 20 event, the public helped plant the propagules, toured the coral and mangrove nurseries and enjoyed music, food, snow cones, raffles and a discussion of the foundations’ efforts.
Mangrove forests are the lifeblood of Florida Keys waters. They act as marine nurseries, protecting countless juvenile species while helping to prevent coastline erosion, filtering water and storing carbon.
With worldwide mangrove forests rapidly declining, the foundations are working together to restore the vital marine ecosystems.
“We are so excited to be partnering with CoastLove,” said Dee Dee Vaughn Smause of PAMC foundation. “Their commitment to community-driven conservation, education and restoration aligns perfectly with that of Plant a Million Corals. We each have our missions to make the much-needed impact on our coral reefs, coastlines and our community, which depends on healthy coral reefs and mangroves.”
A CoastLove booth on April 20 offered framed selfie photos of people who pledged to be part of efforts to reduce single-use plastic bags while local firefighters handed out snow cones to little ones.
Jason Smause, Plant a Million Corals facility manager, poses with one of the coral tanks he built. 
Mangrove propagules, which many people consider seeds, can be replanted to help restore mangrove forests that are critical to the Florida Keys’ coastline and marine ecosystems. They can be collected and donated for planting at Summerland Farms, 23801 Overseas Hwy. CONTRIBUTED 
Dee Dee Vaughn Smause, PAMC Foundation director of communications and development, leads classroom learning experiences at the event. 
CoastLove program manager Dawn Bowles runs the event booth. 
Newly-planted mangrove propagules will one day help contribute to the stability of the Keys’ coastlines. 
CoastLove restoration coordinator Amelia Lynch shows off donated mangrove propagules awaiting planting. 
Planted pots of mangroves await their new homes. 
Corals grow in an acrylic tank at Plant a Million Corals’ Summerland Farms headquarters. 
Arianna Agostini works on fragmenting mustard hill coral. 
Fragments of coral grow in an acrylic tank.
“Through action and education we are bringing information to the community through events and partnerships such as this,” said CoastLove program manager Dawn Bowles.
Tours of the facility featured small fragments of growing corals and baby mangroves that eventually can be planted in the ocean
“Our tanks not only are more efficient for coral restoration and monitoring, but they can be made in one to two days for a fraction of the cost of industry-standard, fiberglass tanks,” Facility Manager Jason Smause said. “They are one of the tools we use to scale up coral restoration to the level needed to save our reefs.”
Donations of planting materials such as pots, soil, gloves, shovels and mangrove propagules are always accepted at Summerland Farms, 23801 Overseas Hwy., MM 23.
More information is at plantamillioncorals.org and coastlove.org.
Photos by JEN ALEXANDER/Keys Weekly
