Mother Earth basked in love and appreciation during the recent Earth Day and Arbor Day Celebration at Riverview Park, hosted by the City of Sebastian’s Natural Resource Board and held between the two globally recognized environmental holidays.
Earth Day is a call to action to change human behavior on a global level and enact policy changes regarding environmental protections, while Arbor Day celebrates nature by encouraging humans to give back to the earth by planting trees. Both highlight the importance of caring for our world.
Against a backdrop of live music, a plethora of nonprofits with eco-centric missions offered environmental information, displays, hands-on activities and demonstrations to people of all ages regarding local environmental issues.
Among them, the Environmental Learning Center highlighted ways people can immerse themselves in nature; Keep Indian River Beautiful emphasized the importance of responsible environmental use and stewardship; and groups such as the Pelican Island Audubon Society stressed the need to preserve and protect native flora and fauna.
No matter the mission, one central theme prevailed – that our health and livelihood are dependent upon a healthy world. All showed that we can do more to make sure to protect our part of the planet, whether by participating in river and ocean cleanups, reducing our carbon footprints, or helping to repair and rebuild natural habitats.
The Indian Riverkeeper was on hand to remind folks just how precious the Indian River Lagoon is. It has been recognized as one of the most diverse estuaries in North America, but that environmental significance is in danger as pollution and overcrowding continue to deplete this unique natural resource.
The Marine Resources Council brought the importance of improved water quality to the forefront, advocating for the protection and restoration of fish and wildlife resources in the lagoon as well as coastal waters, inshore reefs and the watershed, by basing our actions on sound science and on educating the public before it is too late.
Environmental activities included seagrass and native plantings, creating miniature biodomes with seedlings, dragonfly art, leaf rubbings, mangrove adoptions, a virtual scavenger hunt, paper shredding and electronic recycling.
People could also get their feet wet participating in a Living Dock Installation, lending a hand to help improve water quality in the Indian River Lagoon by attaching oyster mats to pilings on the city docks alongside Riverview Park.
The Sebastian River Art Club’s Lagoon Art Show and Sale displayed works depicting the beauty of the local natural environs, reminding people through art of all that we have to lose unless we do a better job of protecting planet Earth.
Sebastian’s Natural Resources Board introduced its community-wide Sustainable Sebastian initiative, with activities focused on achieving sustainability goals: using fewer single-use plastics, increasing nature-friendly landscapes; providing guidance on environmental codes and policies; reducing the city’s operational carbon footprint; protecting and restoring water quality; and promoting the city’s overall livability.
Sebastian City Council members designed the initiative to create a more environmentally friendly community by nurturing the relationship between inhabitants and the environment.
For more information, visit cityofsebastian.org.
Photos by Brenda Ahearn
