Volunteers adopt mangroves in Sanibel to help foster vital Florida ecosystem – WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports | Fort Lauderdale

SANIBEL, Fla. (WSVN) — A group of conservationists have stepped in to create a new program to keep a vital part of Florida’s ecosystem thriving.

Conservationists in Sanibel have stepped in to create an “Adopt a Mangrove” program to foster the plants, and replant them at a restoration site.

Mangrove plants are known to prevent costal erosion and reduce storm surge, but recent hurricanes have uprooted many mangroves.

“They take a baby mangrove or propagule home with them. Care for it for a few months, and then bring it back to us to be planted one of our restoration sites,” said Kealy Pfau, Costal Watch Director from the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation.

In the last few months alone, 700 volunteers have adopted more than 1,800 mangroves.
Copyright 2026 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.