Year: 2024
Relevance
The impacts of poor environmental stewardship in coastal Mississippi and Alabama impair the environment, stormwater infrastructure, tourism and other critical aspects of coastal communities. Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant-funded engagement specialists lead the Mississippi Coastal Cleanup and Living Shorelines Programs with overarching goals of improving environmental stewardship through education, outreach, research and cleanup activities.
Response
During 2024, the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant-supported Coastal Cleanup and Living Shoreline Programs facilitated 42 litter cleanup events and provided 236 presentations, routine site visits and 21 publications on improving the effectiveness and ease of implementing living shorelines.
Results
During 2024, engagement specialists informed decision-making on protection, restoration or enhancement of more than 3.14 linear miles of shoreline in Mississippi and Alabama. Their efforts led to protecting about 41.5 acres with an annual ecosystem service value approaching $4.4 million (based on ecosystem service values from Costanza et al. 2014). Cleanup efforts attracted 1,816 volunteers who contributed 5,488 volunteer hours and removed 4.47 tons of litter, which carries a conservative annual ecosystem service impact of $81,131.
Recap
The Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant-supported Coastal Cleanup and Living Shorelines Program removed over 4.47 tons of litter from the coastal environment and preserved or restored 3.14 miles of shoreline.