The National Wildlife Federation and other partners, in conjunction with the Pensacola and Perdido Bays Estuary Program’s Community Grants Program, are offering a Living Shoreline Course for marine contractors April 6-7.
The two-day hybrid course will educate northwest Florida and southeastern Alabama marine contractors, landscapers, local governments and coastal homeowners about living shorelines and how to install them. Day one will be entirely virtual and day two will be outdoors, following COVID-19 safety protocols. Registration is $50 and applicants will have until April 2 to apply.
“Following Hurricane Sally, coastal residents witnessed firsthand how storms erode shorelines and damage properties,” said NWF Wildlife Policy and Gulf Program Senior Specialist Jessica Bibza. But the area along Bayfront Parkway inside the living shoreline known as Project Greenshores was mostly unscathed. More and more residents are recognizing the benefits of natural features and living shorelines and are looking to have them installed on their properties.”
Living shorelines are greener alternatives to stabilize shorelines from erosion, sea-level rise and other damage. They can be installed either alone or as an enhancement to an existing seawall or other structure. Living shorelines protect, restore or enhance natural shoreline habitat and maintain coastal processes through the strategic placement of plants, oyster shells and other organic materials.
To learn more and apply, visit the Living Shoreline Course webpage here. Jessica Bibza can be reached at, bibzaj@nwf.org, to answer any questions.
NWF’s Living Shoreline Training Course is one of 11 projects awarded funding as a part of the Pensacola and Perdido Bays Estuary Program’s Mini-Grant Program. The funding opportunity included eight eligible project categories that support the Estuary Program’s core vision: water quality, habitat restoration, fish and wildlife conservation, watershed awareness and education, resilience, invasive species, citizen science, and aquatic trash/marine debris. To learn more, visit the link here.
