Miami Volunteers Gather To Restore Natural Areas

MIAMI (CBSMiami) - The Florida City Pineland Preserve is going to get some love from volunteers.

The Miami-Dade County Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) Program and the Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces (PROS) Department are kicking off the 2014/2015 EEL Volunteer Workdays season on Thursday, September 25th at the preserve located at Palm Drive and S.W. 8th Avenue, from 9 a.m. to noon.

Volunteers of all ages are welcomed to come and help. Helpers will "clean up, protect and enhance a rare and delicate habitat at this event in South Dade" according to the press release.

Participants will pull weeds and remove debris to keep the natural area clean. Students who attended can receive community hours for their help.

Experts will also teach volunteers how to identify various invasive non-native species of plants and a greater understanding of the ecosystem.

"The control of invasive non-native plants, that impact our unique habitats, is considered one of the most critical elements in managing our natural areas. Now more than ever, the EEL Program needs the support of the entire community to restore and maintain our natural areas," said Lee Hefty, Division of Environmental Resources Management Director, in a statement.

The natural habitats the volunteers will be cleaning include hammocks, pinelands, freshwater wetlands, mangrove forests and more. However, only remnants of these ecosystems exist. The EEL program wants to protect the animals and plants for future generations to appreciate.

"Conservation is one of the cornerstones of our department, because we recognize the importance of protecting the environment that sustains us," said PROS Director Jack Kardys in a statement.  "We are proud to participate in and support the Volunteer Workday Season to help fulfill the need to manage and wisely steward South Florida's precious natural areas, including its plants and wildlife.  Public engagement and support is vital to the cause."

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