Category: Environment

Florida is a Hotspot

Debbie Roney Smith on

Did you know that Florida is a biodiversity hotspot?! The state ranks 7th for animal biodiversity with 4,368 known species. We rank 6th for vascular plant diversity, with 3,038 species. Florida also ranks among the top five states in endemic species; endemic species are animals or plants that are found only in our state. For instance, 269 species of animals can be found only in Florida. 

In fact, Florida is part of the North American Coastal Plain – the low-lying land stretching from Texas to Florida to New England. In 2016, the North American Coastal Plain was named the 36th biodiversity hotspot in the world. Biodiversity expert Reed Noss said, “Florida, in term of endemic species, is the hottest spot within the Coastal Plain.” There are one-of-a-kind species such as turtles, frogs, freshwater fish, mice, birds, and many types of plants and invertebrates.

Why are biodiversity hotspots important? Well, there’s a lot to cover but the overall message is that biodiversity creates a healthier ecosystem for all life on Earth, including humans. To learn more, check out this article by the Rainforest Action Network. 

 

Apalachicola National Forest Trash Cleanup

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Southeastern Dog Hunters Association and Seasons of Hope Outdoors are seeking volunteers for the 7th Annual Apalachicola National Forest Trash Cleanup! The event counts towards volunteer hours for various organizations including school hours. Cold drinks and trash bags will be provided.

The cleanup will run from 6am-11pm CST on September 30th. Volunteers will meet at Highway 12 and Forest Road 105. Volunteers are welcome to bring their ATVs and UTVs. Contact Michael Harris (850-630-8187), Joseph Hall (850-272-6507), or Sky Scott (850-272-1983) with any questions. 

Emerald Coast Native Plant Fair

Debbie Roney Smith on

Paradise Plants and Palms is excited to announce that they’re hosting the first-ever Emerald Coast Native Plant Fair! Join them on September 16th from 10am – 4pm EDT. The Fair will be a celebration of all things Florida Native Plants and conservation. There will be a variety of conservation groups, local artisans, native plant sellers/nurseries, and arts-n-crafts vendors. There will also be a food truck! 

Along with arts-n-crafts, native plants, and food for sale, the event will feature free educational classes, wildlife conservation experts, and coastal ecosystem informational services. A complete list of native plant sellers, vendors, and conservation groups listed below:

  • Paradise Plants and Palms
  • Sandhill Native Nursery
  • Native Plant Company
  • Revive Native Plant Nursery
  • Root and Stem
  • Pojars Plants
  • Pawsative Chaos
  • Hannah’s Treasures
  • Bohemian Funk
  • Aleigator Supply
  • Clay by Kim
  • Nate Buckley: Bat Conservation
  • Saneka’s Legacy Corp: Ecology Conservation

Visit the event Facebook page HERE for more information.

Earth Overshoot Day 2023

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Earth Overshoot Day is being observed today, August 2. This is an incredibly important day for all of us to reconsider our way of life and the usage of natural resources. Started by Andrew Simms, Earth Overshoot Day was designed to track the ecological resources and services humanity used from nature. Renewable resources need time to renew. If humanity’s usage rate is higher than the renewal rate, then we are over-exploiting the resources without allowing them time to renew themselves.

Earth Overshoot Day (also known as E.O.D.) is a calculation based on resource use and the earth’s regenerating capacity; by calculating the ratio and multiplying it by the number of days in a year, we will get a value known as the E.O.D. Every year, the date comes sooner and sooner. Humanity is over-utilizing the Earth’s resources and putting not only the future of humanity in danger but the future of the Earth itself. Learn more by visiting the EOD website HERE. 

World Turtle Day

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Today is World Turtle Day! This annual event was created to celebrate, raise awareness, and advocate for the conservation of turtles and tortoises worldwide. Turtles and tortoises are associated with wisdom and perseverance in human fables, tales, and stories. In nature, they act as keystone species and indicators of an ecosystem’s health.

Gopher Tortoises, for instance, dig extensive burrows that save over 350 different species during forest fires. Sea turtles help keep sea kelp heathy and act as key prey and/or predator during their lifecycle. To celebrate, learn more by visiting the official World Turtle Day website OR support local turtle conservation efforts like the Navarre Conservation Center by browsing their website, donating to their organization, or visiting their Center.

Arbor Day 2023

Debbie Roney Smith on

Arbor Day 2023 is coming this Friday, April 28th! Arbor Day, literally translating to ‘Tree Day,’ is a holiday that celebrates the planting, upkeep, and preservation of trees, forests, and old-growth forests. The first Arbor Day as it is recognized in the USA was held in Nebraska on April 10, 1872, and has since grown into a national holiday (circa 1970) and has even gained international recognition (circa 1883). 

Prior to the introduction of Arbor Day to the United States, the first historical celebration that aligns with the ideals of ‘Arbor Day’ was celebrated in 1594. In the Spanish village of Mondoñedo, the first documented arbor plantation festival was successfully organized by the mayor of the town. Clearly, the celebration of trees has been a cultural cornerstone for hundreds of years. It is estimated that the celebration on April 10, 1872 culminated in hundreds of thousands of trees being planted. 

Want to celebrate Arbor Day? Consider:

  • Planting a tree
  • Create art celebrating trees
  • Build/purchase something made from recycled wood
  • Sponsor/adopt a tree in need
  • Participate in ‘tree care’ (mulching, pruning, and watering)
  • Visit a local park/state park
  • Read Arbor Day’s Celebration Ideas list for more suggestions

North Florida Wildflower Festival

Debbie Roney Smith on
Click image to open a list of Confirmed Vendors.

The North Florida Wildflower Festival is coming up soon! Come out to Blountstown on Saturday, April 29th from 9am-2pm. The Florida Panhandle, from Jacksonville to Pensacola, is dotted with small towns that boast southern charm and gorgeous natural scenery. The Blountstown Wildflower Festival is one of the most popular events of each spring in Calhoun and surrounding counties. The Festival will feature food vendors, artists, crafters, nurseries, and more! The festival is family and well-behaved pet friendly. There will be kid-friendly activities such as train rides at the M&B Depot. Come out to Magnolia Square to soak in the small-town festival vibes and enjoy a lovely afternoon. The city, which is in the heart of Calhoun County, celebrates the region’s beauty during its annual festival. Learn more by visiting the event website HERE.

 

Arbor Day Tree Giveaway Event

Debbie Roney Smith on

Next weekend is Arbor Day! First celebrated in Nebraska in 1874, Arbor Day is dedicated to planting trees and celebrating their various roles in the world. Trees do a lot including but not limited to boosting our mental health, eating greenhouse gases, cooling the areas around them, supporting wildlife, and cleaning the air!

To celebrate, Panama City Quality of Life is working with IFAS to give FREE trees to Bay County citizens. This offer is only good while supplies last, so come out early to secure your River Birch or Red Maple! The tree giveaway will be held from 9am-1pm at McKenzie Park. There will also be a free kid craft and tree planting kit at Oaks by the Bay Park from 10-11am while supplies last. Learn more by visiting the Facebook event page here. 

Arbor Day 2024

Debbie Roney Smith on

Arbor Day is only a week away! Arbor Day is a holiday that celebrates the planting, upkeep, and preservation of trees. The first Arbor Day was held on April 10, 1872 in Nebraska; they planted approximately 1 million trees! Within 20 years, Arbor Day spread throughout the nation to every state save Deleware. In 1883, it spread internationally to Japan, Europe, Canada, and further. It became a national holiday in 1970 during Nixon’s presidency, and is now a treasured annual event across the globe.

Click the image to learn more about Forests and Carbon!

The need for trees is ever-growing. According to UN Forestry Data, around ten million hectares of forest are destroyed globally every year; for reference, that’s an area the size of Portugal! Around half of the deforestation is offset by regrowing forests, so overall there’s a loss of around five million hectares each year. Imagine if we could bridge the gap; 1 hectare of #forest captures anywhere from 2-5 tonnes of #CO2 a year (this depends on several factors such as the rate of growth, the age of the forest, location, number of trees, and more). According to a 2019 survey, adding nearly 1 billion hectares of forest could remove two-thirds of the roughly 300 gigatons of carbon humans have added to the atmosphere since the 1800s.

Adding forests wouldn’t just sequester carbon; forests provide a host of added benefits including enhanced biodiversity, improved water quality, reduced erosion, improved air quality, and more. Forests can help provide jobs, recreation areas, and can attract tourists for everything from one-of-a-kind views to rare bird species. And it might sound cliche, but a forest starts with you.

So this Arbor Day, get your hands dirty and plant a tree! Visit the Arbor Day Foundation event map to see what’s happening in your area. 

ReTreePC Tree Giveaway

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ReTree Panama City is working with the UF|IFAS Extension Office to give away free trees this coming weekend. While supplies last, there will be 3-gallon Sweetbay Magnolias and Tulip Poplars available to residents. IFAS Master Gardeners will be on-site to answer questions you may have about the trees’ growing condition. The giveaway will be held on January 21st and will be held at two locations: The Market at St. Andrews at Oaks by the Bay Park and Panama City Farmer’s Market at McKenzie Park. The giveaway begins at 9am at McKenzie Park and 10am at The Market at St. Andrews. For information specific to the St. Andrews giveaway, visit this Facebook event page. For information specific to McKenzie Park, visit this Facebook event page.