A team of science and environmental groups just kicked off a major new effort called the Miami Community ResilientSea Project, a three-year plan aimed at making Miami-Dade County’s coast stronger by fixing up crucial natural areas, and getting residents involved in protecting their own backyard.

Leading the charge is the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School on Virginia Key, bringing together their Rescue a Reef program, The CLEO Institute, Black Women in Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Science, Debris Free Oceans, Miami Waterkeeper, and the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science are all involved.

“Miami sits right where the Everglades, Biscayne Bay, and Florida’s Coral Reef all meet up, making it one of the most important and valuable urban coastal areas in the country,” explained Dalton Hesley, who’s heading up the project and is a senior research associate at the Rosenstiel School. “The natural areas around here provide billions of dollars in benefits – everything from protecting us from storms to boosting tourism, fishing, and recreation.”

The ResilientSea Project aims to put local communities, especially those most at risk from climate change, front and center in environmental action. Through hands-on activities and getting folks involved, the project will give residents the know-how and tools to protect the very ecosystems that support their way of life.

Plans include restoring sand dunes and coral reefs, organizing community and coastal clean-ups, offering climate education, and providing training on how to speak up for the environment. By fixing up natural defenses like shorelines, waterways, and coral reefs, the project hopes to reduce storm damage, boost local wildlife, clean up our waters, and spread awareness to build a stronger, more resilient community and coast.

“This project is all about putting community leaders at the heart of this work, recognizing that the people who call Miami home are also the best protectors of its future,” said Gloria Blaise, project manager for the Miami Community ResilientSea Project. “Through real-world, hands-on chances, the project will give local residents the understanding and tools to help keep the ecosystems that support them safe.”