Brevard Zoo’s mission is “Wildlife Conservation through Education
and Participation” and it fulfills this through hands-on conservation projects
run by Brevard Zoo, as well as educating Zoo guests and school groups and supporting
other organizations’ research and conservation efforts.
Through its Quarters for Conservation program, Brevard Zoo has
supported oyster reef and shoreline restoration, sea turtle research and
conservation, Northern Right Whale monitoring, a monofilament recycling program,
dolphin and manatee research and conservation and coral reef restoration. In
2011, Brevard Zoo’s Quarters for Conservation Program raised over $24,000 to
support marine research and conservation projects!
Brevard Zoo also has some of its own hands-on, community-based
conservation projects including oyster reef restoration and shoreline
restoration along the Indian River Lagoon. The
Indian River Lagoon is the most biologically diverse estuary in North America
with over 4,300 plant and animal species considering it home!
Oyster Reef
Restoration Project
The Oyster Reef
Restoration Project was started in 2005 by Dr. Linda Walters of the University
of Central Florida and now includes Brevard Zoo and The Nature Conservancy as
partners. The oyster mats—constructed from mesh and oyster shells—are placed in
the Indian River Lagoon to provide a natural substrate for oyster larvae to
settle. Results show that the oyster mat restoration technique is very
successful - after one year in the water, an average of 79 new oysters settled
on each mat.
Why oysters?
Oysters are filter feeders that improve water quality and clarity by
filtering–one oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water a day! Oysters are
also a food source and provide habitat for many species of fish, birds, and invertebrates,
and oyster reefs stabilize and protect shorelines. But, oysters face a number
of threats including overharvesting, habitat degradation, reduced water
quality, disease, and boat wakes.
Thanks to
approximately 25,000 volunteers since the project started, together with the
project partners, more than 28,000 oyster restoration mats have been constructed
to restore 50 reefs in Mosquito Lagoon.
Indian
River Lagoon Shoreline Restoration Project
Brevard Zoo partnered with Florida Department of
Environmental Protection’s Indian River Lagoon Shoreline Restoration Project
(FDEP IRL SRP) in 2010 to create the Adopt-a-Mangrove program.
The Adopt-a-Mangrove workshops are held at Brevard Zoo with
a fieldtrip to the Brevard Zoo’s Indian River Lagoon exhibit to discuss the
importance and background of the Indian River Lagoon.
Participants also learn
about the history of FDEP’s Indian River Lagoon Shoreline Restoration Project,
the importance of mangroves and shoreline restoration and plant care. At the
end of each workshop, participants take home a plant to
"foster". Workshop
participants include Zoo guests
and members, school groups, scout troops and community
members.
After six months of “fostering” the plants,
participants return them to be provided to Florida Department
of Environmental Protection’s Indian River Lagoon Shoreline Restoration Project
for use in habitat restoration along the Lagoon.
From hands-on conservation and restoration programs to educating
Zoo guests and school groups about the Indian River Lagoon and its inhabitants
to supporting other organizations’ research and conservation efforts, Brevard
Zoo is dedicated to its mission of “Wildlife Conservation through Education and
Participation!”
How to get involved:
Consider one of
the following options:
- Become a Brevard Zoo volunteer
and help with conservation projects, as well as assist in other areas of
the Zoo ranging from administration to animal feeding.
- Participate in one of our local
public events. See Schedules below.
Oyster Reef
Restoration 2012 Workshop Schedule:
August 7 from 9 to 11 a.m. at Barrier
Island Sanctuary
August 14 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at
Erna Nixon Park
August 21 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at
Riverwalk: A Family Park
Please note, mat making workshops are free and open to the public.
Workshops do not include Zoo admission if the event is held at Brevard Zoo.
Adopt-a-Mangrove 2012 Workshop Schedule:
October 4
October 6
November 14
November 17
Workshops are provided free to the public. For more information or to attend a workshop
please email Amy Reaume at areaume@brevardzoo.org.
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