Learn about living shorelines – a natural defense against coastal erosion

Powerful coastal storms can be highly destructive to built environments, including modified shorelines. This is particularly true when nature’s natural defenses, such as oyster reefs, mangroves, and tidal marshes are replaced with turfgrass and ornamental landscaping. This is because turfgrass and ornamental plants have not evolved with coastal storms and are not equipped to absorb wave energy, survive saltwater inundation, or stabilize soils and prevent erosion during storm surge. Even seawalls may prove inadequate to protect against erosion during major storms because surging wave energy may go over and/or under the seawall, killing vegetation and eroding landscapes.

However, nature’s natural coastal defenses can be restored. The process of restoring “living shorelines” provides benefits both as a defense against erosion by absorbing wave energy and by providing habitat that is beneficial to aquatic organisms and terrestrial wildlife. A great deal of science has found that living shorelines are an effective strategy. In the words of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), “living shorelines connect the land and water to stabilize shorelines, reduce erosion, and provide valuable habitat that enhances coastal resilience.”

There are opportunities to learn more about restoring living shorelines through the Florida Master Naturalist Program, which offers a 24-contact hour Coastal Shoreline Restoration (CSR) course. If you act quickly, you can still enroll in a CSR course being offered by Dr. Savanna Barry and her FMNP team at the UF/IFAS Nature Coast Biological Station in Cedar Key, Florida, where several living shorelines have been established. This will be a hybrid course with lectures being conducted online and field trips in person. The course begins on February 14 and is spread out over several weeks. You can review the entire course agenda here (CSR Course Agenda). If interested, you can register online (CSR Course Registration) and there are FMNP scholarships available that you can review on this webpage (FMNP Course Scholarships).

New to the Florida Master Naturalist Program? The FMNP is an adult education curriculum available to anyone interested in learning more about Florida’s natural world. The FMNP offers 11 different courses that are appropriate for interested citizens and professionals seeking to expand their knowledge into new areas. The FMNP is also a lot of fun. Join us – we think you’ll be glad you did!

“Best thing I have ever done. I have learned so much, met so many wonderful people, and found meaningful ways to get involved.” – FMNP graduate

Dr. Martin Main, FMNP Founder and Program Leader
Caitlin Robison, FMNP Program Coordinator

For more information see www.MasterNaturalist.org
or contact us at fmnpcoordinator@gmail.com.

  • Current course offerings and where – LINK
  • Descriptions of FMNP courses – LINK
  • FMNP scholarships – LINK
  • Statewide network Certified FMNP Instructors – LINK
  • FMNP manuals – LINK

 

 

 

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Posted: February 4, 2025


Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Natural Resources, Professional Development, UF/IFAS Extension, Water, Wildlife
Tags: Florida Master Naturalist Program, FMNP, FMNP Blog, Https://www.facebook.com/@OfficialFMNP/, UF/IFAS Nature Coast Biological Station, UF/IFAS Wildlife Ecology And Conservation


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