Art. Science. Mangroves. These three words are not usually put in the same sentence. But they are the core ideas behind the Museum’s Reclamation Project, which has a singular goal to help reclaim south Florida environments for nature. As part of the project, over 1,100 red mangrove seedlings growing in clear cups of water cover one exterior wall of the Museum, in a thought-provoking exhibit showing that we can all make a difference in the world. Fernando Bretos, Reclamation Project Director, Audubon TogetherGreen Fellow, and Kinship Conservation Fellow, wrote an article about the project which was recently published by Care2, the largest online community in the world for environmental activism. With over 19 million members, Care2 is a great place to help spread the word that even though the world is a big place, every person, and every little mangrove seedling, can make a difference. Click here to check out the article on Care2!

There is a constant battle in many places between the environment and human activity, and south Florida is one of those places. But on Saturday May 12th, the Museum’s Reclamation Project took steps to help the environment win the battle. With the help of 102 volunteers, this eco-art based restoration project completed the final phase of restoration of the freshwater wetland at Highland Oaks Park. Within this park is the beginning of the Oleta River, which is the only fresh water tributary to Biscayne Bay that has not been altered by flood control systems – which means it flows naturally and unimpeded from source to sea. The restored Highland Oaks habitat will provide the low-salinity environment necessary for fisheries as well as a critical nesting and foraging area for native birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals. With this goal in mind, volunteers planted 642 freshwater native plant species in the cypress wetland area of the park. Who were all of these volunteers? About half were people from around our community, and half were youth participants in the Museum’s award-winning Upward Bound Math and Science Program. The students planted trees and shrubs, removed invasive plants that threaten the site, and learned about the important role native habitats play in a growing metropolis such as Miami. After completing the replanting phase at Highland Oaks, the students are ensured that nature will take care of the rest. Native fish, birds and mammals are already returning to the site. The power of volunteer restoration is that it allows Miami residents to have a direct role in bringing nature back to our city.

Volunteers help restore Highland Oaks Park

The Museum's Upward Bound staff joins the effort

Last week, Museum staff and Upward Bound students helped restore the Reclamation Project wall at the Wildlife Center for another year.

Each of the 1,111 seedlings that spent a year germinating on the wall were removed and replaced with new seedlings collected by volunteers at Virginia Key. This marks the fourth year the mangrove wall has been replanted. The seedlings that were replaced will be planted next week by a similar group of Museum volunteers at Virginia Key. This annual activity brings Museum staff together to celebrate our environmental resources and help restore mangrove wetlands and urban habitats.

“The effort from Museum staff epitomizes the heart and soul of the Project; to engage Miami residents to reclaim land for nature” said Reclamation Project Director, Fernando Bretos. “As humans are the primary cause for coastal wetland deforestation, the act of restoration allows us to be the solution as well”

The Reclamation Project is a participatory eco-art based restoration project that engages Miami residents to reclaim land for nature, one seedling at a time. The 1,111 Red mangrove seedlings on the wall at the Wildlife Center are metaphorically reclaiming a concrete structure for what once thrived there; a mangrove forest. The Reclamation Project is the brainchild of local Miami artist Xavier Cortada.

To support the Reclamation Project, please visit: http://www.miamisci.org/www/reclamation-project-form.php