Barefoot Beach

So, I think it’s safe to say that my last beach day was pretty unlike any beach day that I’ve had before in the past 18 years I've spent living in Florida. Thanks to a little something called the notorious “red tide”, instead of enjoying the crystal blue waters, white sand, and fresh air that we’re normally graced with at the beaches of Naples, I instead was greeted by thousands of dead fish littering the shoreline, murky water, and the horrid smell that came along with the massacre. Fortunately for me, I’ve been to Barefoot Beach before and have seen it in all of its true glory; but I had to feel a little for the participants on the field trip who had never seen it in any other way than the way it was presented to us on this given day. But anyways, other than the issues caused by the red tide, the other parts of the field trip were a new and exciting learning experience for me. From the relaxing shaded walk on the dirt/sand path, learning about new trees, mangroves, plants, etc… to the walk along the inner shore line spotting armadillos, snakes, and a few guest appearances from some adult gopher tortoises, Barefoot Beach really is one of a kind. 

One thing that I find pretty interesting about this particular beach is the way it's surrounded by various types of mangroves in certain parts. Mangroves are especially important to the sustainment of this type of ecosystem because they provide vital shelter and habitat for countless different species of flora and fauna. Mangroves also greatly aid in the prevention of erosion, which is very important for ecosystems such as the one of Barefoot Beach. Barefoot Beach is also home to an estuary which serves great importance to both society and to the environment. Estuaries are natural water filtration systems that filter all kinda of man-made pollutants, as well as provide habitat protection from man-made and natural causes. As said before, mangroves especially play a huge role in all of this. Without the mangroves, erosion from tropical storms, hurricanes, etc. would be severe, and tons of habitat would be destroyed, resulting in the loss of a vast abundance of flora and fauna, as well as land.

Due to the relatively short lifespan of barrier islands, I personally don’t believe we should be building upon them. Much like estuaries, barrier islands also provide habitats and fight erosion, and are vital components to the maintenance and sustainability of the environment and their ecosystems. Developing on barrier islands can not only pose a threat to these habitats, but also increases the risk of property damage from natural causes due to the tendency for them to constantly shift as a result from wind and waves. Thanks to recent advancements in what we call “urban forestry”, we have come to realize that there can definitely be a balance between preservation and development… if done right. Building condominiums, resorts, hotels, etc., on barrier reefs strictly for profit however, does not fall under this balance. In order to maintain the health of our planet and its environments, we must make a lot of changes in the future regarding development and preservation, and the advancement and implication of urban forestry is a huge step in the right direction. In the readings we have learned about many ways in which we, the consumer class, can rapidly destroy our planet relatively easily without even realizing it. Fortunately, some major companies, such as Home Depot, (which refuses to buy lumber from suppliers that destroy orangutang habitats), have made positive steps towards the sustainment of our planet and its inhabitants. Unfortunately, although it’s nice to see some companies taking the planet into consideration rather than strictly for money and personal benefit, this small contribution simply just isn’t enough to fully make a substantial difference. In order to actually save our planet, there is a lot more that needs to be done. Hopefully more major companies will follow in the paths of companies like Home Depot, and we can really start to see positive changes being made. Until then, all I can do is challenge myself to be better and to encourage others around me to do the same!

One of the many gopher tortoises we saw on the field trip!

Hundreds of dead fish littering the shore due to the red tide