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Volunteers and members from Conserve Nassau meet at Little Nana Dune to encourage its healing from a blowout by planting native plants. Photo courtesy of Conserve Nassau
Conserve Nassau, a new 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in Nassau County, is ready to go public and hit the ground running.
Last week, at only a few months old, the organization announced it is going public, giving more opportunities for local community members with a passion for protecting the environment to get involved.
Conserve Nassau originated from the Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code Working Group, previously a division of the Amelia Tree Conservancy. The group works toward encouraging updated land use protocols for local governments to reflect the effects of climate change. Cities and towns at low elevations (like Fernandina Beach) could potentially see damages arising from rising sea levels and other effects of climate change. Conserve Nassau believes in the importance of keeping building codes and other legal documents ahead of these effects.
The group also works to educate citizens and restore coastal dunes, preserve and restore marshes and wetlands, preserve and restore tree canopies and preserve Nassau’s cultural heritage and water and air quality.
Comprised of ecologists, environmentalists, economists, engineers, social justice advocates and educators, the group places emphasis on collaboration and community, working together to achieve a happy and healthy ecosystem in Nassau County.
Among its initiatives is a project focusing on dune restoration at Little Nana Dune in American Beach. To encourage healing, the team has planted more than 2,000 native plants in the past two years and set up temporary sand fencing to support the dune. The group continues to monitor the dune as time goes on, watching for change and adjusting plans to continue to help.
As far as protecting cultural heritage, the group says it continues to oppose beach harmonization in Nassau County and to encourage protection from development for the Tringali properties in Fernandina Beach.
“Conserve Nassau looks for solutions to our challenges at the interface of the various aspects of our life and environment in North Florida because our environment, our economy and our social features are all interdependent,” the nonprofit said in a recent release announcing its going public. “Often the best strategies and solutions are developed through listening, learning and collaboration.”
As far as upcoming projects go, the group is planning to add (with support from the Fernandina Beach Parks and Recreation Department) a native plant garden to Egans Creek Park this fall.
“Our purpose is to showcase a beautiful and enriching demonstration garden of Florida natives for pollinators and songbirds using native wildflowers and shrubs,” representatives said. “The garden will also highlight the park’s history as an Indigo plantation.”
The organization’s leadership consists of previous board members of other local organizations, retired professors and educators, biologists and other experts in their fields. Membership and volunteer opportunities are available via the organization’s website.
hdorman@fbnewsleader.com
