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To promote the Pine Rockland Initiative, the Institute for Regional Conservation is hosting a Volunteer Workday at the Miami Metrozoo's pine rocklands on Saturday, April 10.
The Metrozoo includes most of the "Richmond pine rocklands," Miami-Dade County's largest remnant of this habitat outside of Everglades National Park. Pine rocklands are a globally imperiled plant community and, in Miami-Dade County, they are home to several species of endangered plants and butterflies. However, even protected within a preserve, this habitat can be destroyed by invasive exotic plants. Removal of Brazilian Pepper and Burmareed will be the primary goal of this workday
Individuals and groups interested in assisting this project are urged to contact Jim Duquesnel at The Institute for Regional Conservation (305-505-9192). Refreshments and a barbecue lunch will be provided at no cost for participants. The press and VIPs will stop by at noon to see the project and meet the volunteers.
Details
When? Saturday, April 10th from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm.
Where? Meet at "Gate 2" at Metrozoo at 12400 Southwest 152nd Street. Take the zoo entrance road (south for 7/10 of a mile), and then take the first right turn. Then pass the next right (into the Gold Coast Railroad Museum), and continue straight ahead (west). On the right, you will see a guard house beside a gate. Park close to the guard house. Someone from IRC will be shuttling volunteers in to the worksite, and the guard will notify us if there are late arrivals. Be prepared to carry whatever you need, as we will be nearly a mile from the parked vehicles.
What to bring? Long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and a sturdy pair of shoes are required. Sandals are not permitted. A hat and sunscreen are recommended. Volunteers are asked to bring work gloves, but IRC can provide gloves for anyone without their own. Please bring a refillable water bottle.
IRC will provide: Training, safety supplies, ice water and Gatorade, and a barbecue lunch.
Note to County Parks Department:
Public Affairs Specialist Phil Kloer, of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is visiting FWS projects in South Florida and plans to visit the Metrozoo on April 10 at approximately noon. Phil has invited the press to accompany him, and to meet the volunteers. Phil would like to promote the Pine Rockland Initiative as a successful example of the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA), also known as the "Federal Stimulus."
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