The Lands
When most people think of Florida, their minds immediately go to our amazing coastlines. However, there is so much more to explore beyond the state’s sand and surf. In fact, nearly half of Florida’s land area is covered by forests.
Here in Martin County, we have over 100,000 acres of conservation lands. Among this, you will find ecosystems such as pine flatwoods, hardwood hammocks, and sand pine scrub. Areas such as these are a critical part of Florida’s environment for a multitude of reasons, including providing habitat for wildlife, storing carbon from the atmosphere, and cleaning our water supply.
Unfortunately, these extremely important ecosystems are under threat as the state continues to develop at a rapid pace. Martin County itself is managing about 35,000 acres of land, and we are constantly working on various ecosystem restoration projects to help protect these areas. You can learn more about Martin County’s ecosystem projects here.
How You can Help Protect Martin County’s Lands
Practice Leave No Trace Principles
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- Stick to the designated trails to not cause unnecessary damage to the ecosystem
- Pack out what you pack in and do your part to pick up any litter that you see
- Know how to use fire responsibly to avoid causing wildfires
Volunteer with local environmental organizations. Learn about upcoming volunteer opportunities in Martin County here (link).
Learn more about the work that Martin County is doing to preserve our ecosystems here.
Visit them! Going to your local parks and preserves is a great way to show your support for them and learn more about our unique lands and species that reside within them.
Travel in small groups and during off days and times to not only avoid the crowds but ensure that trail damage is prevented.
The Coast
Martin County’s coastline is one of the biggest draws to the area, made up of over 20 miles of uncrowded beaches to be explored. Additionally, paralleling the beaches, you will find the Indian River Lagoon, which is one of the most biodiverse estuaries in North America due how far northward it spans.
Along these waterways, you will also find that Martin County’s coastline is also home to vast mangrove ecosystems. Mangroves are an extremely important part of the coast as they buffer the land against storms, reduce coastal erosion, and filter pollutants from the water. Despite their importance, mangroves are facing threats from development and pollution.
Our coastlines are also essential ecosystems for wildlife. Notably, from March 1 to October 31 marks sea turtle nesting season; Martin County alone hosts thousands of nests every year. It is essential that as we visit and enjoy these beaches, that we also remember to take actions that help to protect them. You can learn more about what Martin County is doing to help protect our beaches here.
How You Can Help Protect Martin County’s Coasts
Practice Leave No Trace Principles
- Stay on designated paths when going to the beach. Dune ecosystems are very sensitive and should not be walked across.
- Pack out what you pack in, such as trash or personal items. If left behind, they can greatly damage ecosystems and wildlife.
- Don’t collect items from the coastal areas you visit, such as seashells.
Practice sea turtle safe habits when visiting the beach. This includes knocking down sandcastles or filling in holes to keep the beach flat, not using lights on or near the beach, and removing personal items like beach chairs at the end of the day.
Pick up any trash that you see. If everybody picked up only a few pieces every time, it would add up to a huge impact!
Participate in local volunteer events that work to preserve and conserve our coastal environments! View upcoming volunteer opportunities in Martin County here (add link).
The Reefs
Beneath the waves, Martin County hosts four different types of reef ecosystems: coral, rock, worm, and artificial. Although different, each reef type plays an important role in the greater ocean ecosystem, and it is vital we prioritize their conservation. Reefs also benefit our communities by reducing wave energy from storms, providing recreation opportunities, and serving as an important food source.
The Florida Reef Tract, which stretches about 350 miles from the Dry Tortugas National Park to the St. Lucie Inlet, in Stuart, is the world’s third largest coral reef. This spectacular resource offers an enormous variety of adventures for divers, anglers, and boaters. The Florida Reef Tract is a major contributor towards making Florida the “Fishing Capital of the World”. Learn more about fishing in Martin County here.
Protecting our valuable reefs is something that everyone can take part of. Some of the actions that Martin County has taken include taking part in the Coral Reef Ambassadors (LINK TO INITIATIVES) and funding coral reef research. Learn more about the work Martin County is doing to protect our reefs here.
How You Can Help Protect Martin County’s Reefs
Practice Leave No Trace Principles
- Respect marine animals and their environment; leave coral and living shells where you found them.
- Swim at an attitude parallel to the reef to avoid kicking it with your fins. Shallow artificial reefs are good places to practice.
- Recycle! – Dispose of trash and recyclable materials in the proper receptacles or bring trash and recyclables home.
Wear your sunscreen, but make sure that it’s reef safe! Reef safe sunscreen are those that do not contain Oxybenzone and Octinoxate, which can cause coral bleaching. Here are some of the best reef safe sunscreen options of 2023.
Please do not drop an anchor on the reef. Anchor in sand up current of the reef and pay out line until the boat is over the reef.
It is imperative that you clean your gear when moving to different areas along the reef. Microbial organisms can hitch a ride on unwashed dive gear, spreading disease from dive to dive.
Make sure to avoid sunning sea turtles or manatees when boating.
The Inland Waters
Florida’s water systems are the critical to the health of the state’s communities and ecosystems, sustaining wildlife and fisheries, recreational opportunities, public health, quality of life, and more. Florida has over 1,700 streams and rivers, 7,800 freshwater lakes, and 11 million acres of wetlands. Much of this can be found right here in Martin County.
Wetlands are some of the most unique inland waters that can be explored; from alligators to ancient cypress trees, navigating this ecosystem will often make you feel like you’ve been transported to back in time. Additionally, wetlands are extremely valuable for both the health of our environment and communities. You can learn about how Martin County is protecting our wetlands here. Martin County is also home to the St, Lucie River and the Loxahatchee River, the latter of which is notably designated as a “Wild and Scenic River”. Lastly, Martin County includes a part of Lake Okeechobee, the third largest freshwater lake in the United States.
Over the years, these waters have gone through significant changes due to the pressure from development. Luckily, Martin County is investing significant resources to restore and protect our water for generations to come. Learn about the work we have done to protect our waters here.
How You Can Help Protect Martin County’s Inland Waters
Practice Leave No Trace Principles
- Pack out what you pack in to avoid polluting these waterways. Know that everything eventually make it’s way downstream, so its imperative that we minimize our impacts on both land and water.
- Observe all wildlife from a distance to minimize disturbing them.
Volunteer with local environmental organizations. Learn about upcoming volunteer opportunities in Martin County here (link).
Learn more about the work that Martin County is doing to preserve our ecosystems here.
Be smart when choosing a lawn and garden fertilizer, as they will enter our waterways through runoff. Use non-nitrogen lawn supplements to avoid nutrient pollution.