Protecting and Preserving

These photographs communicate the beauty, functionality, and fragility at the edge where thef coastal ocean meets the land. They are meant to move people to protect and preserve. Human activities, such as development and pollution, threaten coastal ecosystems. Protecting and preserving the coastal ocean offers a nature-based solution for long-term carbon storage. People are the problem, and they can be part of the solution. Beach cleanups, removing invasive species, planting native species, and conducting research activities can significantly complement other climate mitigation approaches. They all help slow coastal flooding and safeguard our fishing and recreational ocean activities. Choosing to plant mangroves instead of building a parking lot can make a difference. More than a quarter of the world's mangroves have been lost over the last 50 years. Mangrove Trees and Shrubs have extensive root systems that filter nutrients and provide habitat and breeding grounds for fish and other species. They also stabilize by buffering the ocean's impact, making the land less vulnerable to storms and flooding and keeping us from going over the edge. While national and international efforts are important, influencing policy in your local community is likely the most meaningful and immediate step people can take to mitigate climate change. We will experience the consequences of climate change for most of our lives. The choices we make today will have effects that last for centuries and will especially affect younger generations.