Neighbors to Nature

A HAVEN FOR PROTECTED FLORA AND FAUNA

Florida residents who live along the southeastern coast are blessed with an abundance of preserved land where they can view wildlife and interact with nature. In this issue we focus on two local non-profit organizations who are doing important work to protect and restore the Indian River Lagoon and surrounding area.

INDIAN RIVER LAND TRUST For more than 30 years, the Indian River Land Trust has been purchasing some of Indian River County’s most important environmentally sensitive lands as well as protecting properties with conservation easements. Invasive plants are removed, native species and habitats are restored and, then, through ongoing land stewardship, wildlife corridors and scenic waterfront areas are protected.

More than 1,200 acres and 12 miles of Indian River Lagoon shoreline have been preserved and protected so far. Over the years, the organization has established a fund to protect sea turtle habitat in the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge, restored McKee Botanical Garden and established a 220-acre Coastal Oaks Preserve with tropical oak hammocks, pine flatwoods, freshwater and saltwater wetlands and ponds, as well as lagoon shoreline.

Most recently, the Land Trust partnered with Indian River County to acquire multiple parcels that make up the 155-acre Oyster Bar Marsh, located on State Road A1A, with plans to provide a public trail later this year for hiking and biking, with interpretative signage, boardwalks and an observation deck where visitors can enjoy scenic river views. This conservation area provides refuge to numerous wading birds, fish species and reptiles. Providing public access for recreational purposes is an important part of the Land Trust’s mission. The Lagoon Greenway boasts an ecologically diverse three-mile trail that winds its way through the oak hammock and a forest of cabbage palms before arriving at mangroves. The one-mile Toni Robinson Waterfront Trail contains majestic oaks, scrub forest, mangrove swamp and views of the Indian River Lagoon.

Each year the Land Trust offers free guided tours on these public hiking and biking trails as well as the sandy trail at Bee Gum Point, where volunteer naturalists help visitors identify the diverse flora and fauna including migrating birds and native species in their natural undeveloped wetland habitat.

ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER Another noteworthy Vero Beach nature destination is the Environmental Learning Center. Founded in 1988, ELC is poised to become even more effective in educating, inspiring and empowering people to be active stewards of the environment thanks to its new ecofriendly amphitheater.

The new Thomas R. Schidel Education and Event Pavilion and Oval – the first project in a long-range Master Plan – is expected to expand the organization’s revenue base, add to its community engagement, foster greater awareness and contribute to the region’s entertainment ecosystem.

The pavilion, surrounded by living wall trellises, offers shade and cooling overhead fans while the adjoining oval, ringed by native plants, consists of a large turf area where guests can sit to enjoy lectures, musical performances and other educational programs. This state-of-the-art venue, with a lounge for

performers, has the capacity to host up to 1,100 people and is available for rent for corporate events and retreats, weddings and other private events.

Created to showcase a native Florida Indian River Lagoon island, the Environmental Learning Center now teaches visitors about the area’s rich biodiversity and the importance of its heritage, preservation and continued legacy through immersive, nature-based experiences.

The Indian River Lagoon, one of the most bio-diverse estuaries in North America, is home to more than 4,300 different species of plants and animals including some that are rare or endangered. Visitors to the 64-acre campus can explore the waters and mangrove forests surrounding the center by venturing out on their own in a canoe or kayak or by enjoying a twohour guided cruise. Many guests prefer to simply stroll around the peaceful grounds spotting birds, dolphins, gopher tortoises and butterflies.

Visitors often find that they can relax, re-energize and reconnect with nature through the various wellness offerings such as yoga classes, halfday retreats, walking meditation instruction in the butterfly garden and “glamping” events.

On display each season in the center’s gallery are works by artists, sculptors and photographers who use nature as their inspiration. Especially engaging for children is the interpretative center, which houses several aquariums including the largest brackish water aquarium in Indian River County, a 145-gallon touch tank and other hands-on exhibits.

To learn more, visit the websites at irlt.org and discoverelc.org.

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