It’s that time of year again! The start of a new season filled with new friends, new teachers, and new knowledge! With another new school year comes another school supply list with new notebooks, new pencils, the latest trendy backpack, and more shoes for all the growing feet! Although the materials for a new school year are necessary, the costs can start to add up, and not just financially, but environmentally too!

According to the Environmental Paper Network, the production and disposal of three 100-page spiral notebooks (about 3.6 pounds of paper) would represent about 10 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere.  Multiplying that by the number of spiral notebooks used in the U.S. in one school year equals out to a pretty substantial carbon footprint. Although totally outlawing the use of paper notebooks is not feasible, many families can try to reduce their own carbon footprint by using less paper and focusing on electronic solutions. In this article, one Standford University master’s student calculates the comparison between the carbon dioxide emissions and environmental impacts of three spiral-bound notebooks and one Macbook laptop.

https://stanfordmag.org/contents/should-i-ditch-my-spiral

               For many young students, switching from paper to electronic notetaking is not exactly possible, especially at the elementary grade level. However, this is not the only way to prioritize the environment when going back to school shopping! Rather than settling for the usual name brands of spiral and composition notebooks, there are countless eco-friendly brands that sell similar products that can be utilized. Some of those brands include Honeyoung Notebooks, Notely Stationary, Decomposition Books, and many more! The key is finding a brand that can be made from zero-waste, sustainable, and recyclable materials.

An eco-friendly paper notebook is not the only shift in back-to-school shopping. There are many other ways your family can reduce waste and live sustainably. Decreasing the dependence on plastic products can have a huge impact on the environment. Almost every standard school supply required for student participation in a classroom is manufactured with some kind of plastic. Making the switch to reusable lunch containers, recycled pencil pouches, staple free staplers, and other plastic free items may have a positive effect on the environment. Have you ever had to wait in a long pick-up car line? It might seem nice to be first in line to pick the kiddos up from school, but sitting with the car running for an hour burns about one-fifth of a gallon of gas and produces about 4 pounds of carbon dioxide to be released into the atmosphere. For an entire week, that’s 20 pounds of carbon dioxide added to your carbon footprint! As an alternative, save on gas and wait a bit to join the pick-up line! For more information on easy environmentally friendly back-to-school switches, check out this link:

https://ecolunchboxes.com/blogs/news/great-green-products-for-an-eco-friendly-back-to-school

Here at the Sawgrass Nature Center, we wish you happy sustainable shopping and good luck in a blooming new school year!

As a docent, you gain many beneficial skills to apply to your future. We learn how to better interact with people and advance our public speaking skills. In addition, we were able to form many friendships with people from different ethnic backgrounds, deepening our understanding and appreciation of their cultures. You can learn what it means to have true discipline by coming here every day on time. If learning about animals is your passion, then this is the volunteer opportunity for you. After coming here, our knowledge of different species of animals as well as the environment has grown exponentially.

In the beginning, we were all timid and reserved.

 “I’ve always been very introverted so when I thought of volunteering, I wanted to do something where I wouldn’t have to work with others. When I heard of this opportunity, I was excited because I am very passionate about working with animals, but working with a group of people scared me. My mom encouraged me to take the chance and I’m glad I did. Our volunteer counselor, Abby, is very kind and welcoming, she didn’t put pressure on me and allowed me to work at my own pace. The other docents here are also very kind, they all had the same concerns as me so we were able to get along quickly. Overall, this was a great opportunity. Don’t let being shy stop you from doing this program if you want to because it is an experience that I believe will continue to benefit me in my life.”

-11^th grader Anesha A

By Ian Brundrett

For decades our awareness of the harm plastic production and its wasteful byproducts produce have drastically increased. The most recent revelation is that the degradation of plastics into microplastics that cannot biodegrade are invading our every day lives. They end up in the ocean, in our waterways, in our soil, in our food, and eventually, our bodies. A study as recent as March 2024 shows that people with microplastics and nanoplastics in their arteries are much more likely to have fatal health conditions.

What about all the plastic we recycle you may ask? The reality is that most of the plastic we put into our recycling bins ends up in a landfill anyway. Excess food waste in the plastic will cause it to be dumped. Plastic degrades after only 1 or 2 uses and it becomes more toxic the more it is reused. There are also many different types of plastics and none of them can be melted down together and unfortunately it’s very expensive to collect and sort. New plastic, on the other hand, is cheap and easy to make and not many businesses are in the market to spend extra money to sort old plastic when they could just make more of it. Therefore, only about 5% of the plastic we recycle actually gets reused. The rest all gets dumped into landfills or gets exported to countries that we pay to accept garbage, where it also just gets dumped or burned.

Because this material has become so commonplace and there is no effort to stop its production, scientists and companies have been researching ways to more effectively recycle and reuse plastic to reduce its production. Currently, plastic is mechanically and physically recycled. It’s sorted and broken down into granules which is then used as raw material. As stated previously, this method is highly ineffective at maximizing how much plastic can actually be reused. Therefore, 3 new chemical methods are being researched and attempts to implement them are underway.

Chemolysis recycling – this method begins with a mechanical process of sorting plastic. Then, using different chemical solvents and heat, the plastic’s building blocks, called polymers, are broken down into smaller building blocks called monomers. Then, contaminates are identified and removed from the monomers. The decontaminated monomers are then fed back into regular plastic production.

Enzymatic recycling – enzymes are proteins that are commonly used in chemistry to speed up chemical reactions. In this case, enzymes are used to break down the polymers into momomers. Enzymatic recycling is an exceptional breakthrough because using enzymes to break down plastic’s polymers has no limitations on the types of plastics that can be recycled, meaning that they don’t need to be sorted and that we don’t need to dump the plastics that can’t be broken down mechanically. Also, it doesn’t compromise the structural integrity of the plastic, meaning there is no loss in quality and it will not become increasingly toxic between uses.

Pyrolysis recycling – this method involves melting plastics at extreme temperatures, usually around 500° celsius, or 932° fahrenheit, in the absence of oxygen. It is vaporized in a reactor and turned into oil. The oil is then used to make new plastic products.

These new chemical methods of recycling bring a positive solution to the issue of overproduction, waste, and overall health problems associated with microplastics. However the long term effectiveness of these chemical processes are not fully tested yet. There could be high energy costs, toxic byproducts, or unsustainable labor to operate them. Unfortunately, humans have irreversibly altered the state of the Earth by introducing this man made material and it will never go away. The only way to truly stop plastic waste is to stop producing it all together! That’s why it’s incredibly important for all of us to be more conscious of what we are buying and where we are sourcing our products from. Invest in reusable materials, repurpose things you use instead of throwing them away, buy products with biodegradable packaging, and properly disposing of waste are small efforts we can make individually to try and reduce our impact.

https://www.covestro.com/en/sustainability/what-drives-us/circular-economy/innovative-recycling?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwv7O0BhDwARIsAC0sjWNGk8Rc9baRg1kbosgmcZoW34LoXg2XZnwrlF9kfZYWBGkHzf6cWt8aAp5MEALw_wcB

https://cefic.org/a-solution-provider-for-sustainability/chemical-recycling-making-plastics-circular/chemical-recycling-via-depolymerisation-to-monomer/#:~:text=The%20depolymerisation%20process%20%E2%80%93%20often%20referred,the%20monomers%20to%20remove%20them.

Chemical Recycling – A Key Technology for the Circular Economy

https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/news-events/news/new-life-waste-plastic-2023-08-03_en#:~:text=The%20new%20bio%2Dindustrial%20process,with%20no%20loss%20of%20quality.

https://www.miltonroy.com/en-us/resources/blog/overview-of-advanced-recycling#:~:text=What%20is%20Pyrolysis%20Plastic%20Recycling,waste%20in%20the%20pyrolysis%20reactor.

https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/22/health/plastics-food-wellness-scn/index.html#:~:text=Apples%20and%20carrots%20were%20the,also%20the%20least%20contaminated%20vegetable.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0013935120305703

https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/06/health/nanoplastics-heart-attack-study-wellness/index.html

https://www.npr.org/2022/10/24/1131131088/recycling-plastic-is-practically-impossible-and-the-problem-is-getting-worse

Enzymatic recycling

By Ian Brundrett

There is no greater way to show appreciation for the country we live in than by keeping it clean, beautiful, and healthy for us and our animal neighbors.  As you get ready to celebrate Independence Day and our beautiful nation of opportunity and freedom, remember the animals that roam free around us.  Florida has an abundance of wildlife and is one of the most biodiverse states in America.  As Floridians it’s our duty to respect and care for the wildlife that makes Florida so great!  So we’ve listed a few helpful tips so that you can have the most fun while protecting our beautiful country.

• Try to plan your activities in an urban area like your backyard or somewhere that has a denser human population where less wild animals live and could be disturbed.  If an area like that is not an option for you, the best place would be a local neighborhood park that is still surrounded by human traffic.  Fireworks are especially loud and scary for animals and if disturbed by loud bangs and flashes of light, they may flee their nests and habitat for extended periods of time or indefinitely.
  
• Avoid using disposable products.  Using reusable items and containers that you’ll be taking back home with you reduces the chances of accidentally leaving litter and reduces the amount of waste you produce.
• Clean up after yourself! Do not leave trash and litter behind.  Not only is litter an extremely harmful pollutant to wildlife, but it’s also disrespectful to the community you live in.
  
• It’s especially important to properly dispose of fireworks.  Fireworks have harmful chemicals in them that bleed into the soil and vegetation.  They are also choking hazards to local wildlife.  Make sure you safely retrieve used fireworks and follow the EPA’s guidelines for disposing of hazardous waste.  Use the links in the website below to find out more:
  

Safe Handling, Storage and Treatment of Waste Fireworks | US EPA

By Ian Brundrett

For multiple decades climate change has been a relevant topic in public debate and political agenda.  As scientific evidence continues to mount it is more evident now than ever before that it is affecting us in unprecedented ways.  A particularly important side effect of climate change is how it is affecting our agriculture.  The long-term effects of a warming planet may impact our farming techniques and what types of food are available during the seasons throughout the year.   

As the average temperature of the globe rises it tends to stay warmer for longer during seasonal changes.  This prolongs the growing season for certain crops and reduces the growing season for others.  This means that some produce and crops may have a shortage of supply and could be hard to find at your local markets.   

Increases in temperatures may increase the likelihood of wildfires in states that are already susceptible to them. This can devastate farmland and forests alike and wipe out crops in an instant.  

Precipitation and the water cycle have a massive impact on agriculture and our growing methods.  With warmer weather comes a possible increased rainfall and more violent storms.  Insects that eat crops may increase in number along with weed growth. This could lead to an increase in pesticide use which in turn increases the potential for harmful runoffs associated with pesticides.  Additionally, more water is not always a good thing for crops and plants as too much water can actually harm them and possibly lead to disease and decreased yield. 

Precipitation also affects natural pollination and may change the behavior of pollinators like bees and butterflies. The combination of warmer temperatures and increased precipitation can change the behavioral pattern and timing of when crops and plants bloom and when bees and butterflies emerge.  If there is a mismatch between plant flowering and the emergence of pollinating insects, pollination will decrease, and crop yields may decline. Heavy rains and violent storms can also cause increased soil erosion and produce more runoff.  When this happens, beneficial nutrients in the soil can be lost. 

Farmers, agriculturalists, and government bodies like the EPA have been hard at work for many years producing techniques and adapting their methods to the changes in our climate. However, we cannot always rely on them as the weather and our impact on the Earth is unpredictable.  Therefore, it is important to take matters into our own hands and educate ourselves about agriculture.  You can learn how to grow things in your own home no matter where you live.  Getting hands on practice and finding useful techniques to grow your own vegetables is healthy not only for you but for the environment.  Eating home grown vegetables is better for you than the highly produced and transported ones from the store.  Additionally, it reduces the impact of greenhouse gases produced from shipping produce and it will lessen the use of pesticides that get trapped in runoff and end up in our oceans.  It’s also important to shop at your local farmers’ markets! If you have access to locally produced crops, eggs, and meat, you’re benefiting your community as well as eating ethically sourced foods with much higher nutritional value. 

Here are some links that can help you get started growing your own food! 

https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/tips-for-urban-gardening

https://www.gardeners.com/how-to/vegetable-gardening/5069.html

 

For those who have lived in dense urban areas or big cities, integrated green spaces may not seem so bizarre. Pictured in some futuristic utopian movies, many people are familiar with sustainable green spaces like green roofs. Even without living under one, most people have heard of a green roof. The looming question is whether or not we as a society can work towards true green, sustainable living.  

A green roof is just one of the many examples of urban sustainability and it is a term that is used to describe the roof of a building that has been transformed into a garden or habitat that increases the environmental integrity of the space. Green roofs are not the only form of environmental integration into the urban world. There are many other ways a neighborhood or city can incorporate nature and greenery into an area. The catch is, however, that these green spaces cannot be considered environmentally conscious unless they are both sustainable and useful. Planting a row of random trees down the middle of a sidewalk may be aesthetically pleasing, but it is not actually helpful for the environment. Workable greenhouses, however, can be implemented throughout a space to grow food and generate heat and electricity for a population of people. Natural plant and animal life can be incorporated to increase the diversity of wildlife and maintain species survival. Green spaces can be created to help absorb air pollution and reduce erosion. These are just a few examples of how the natural environment can be incorporated into the urban world.  

Urban sustainability may sound enticing at first glance, but to most city planners, it sounds like a questionable way to spend their money. Nevertheless, there is a wide range of benefits to these green spaces. Not only can they encourage the betterment of the natural world through increased biodiversity, pollution control, clean air and water production, noise reduction, and energy generation, but there are also social, aesthetic, and economic benefits as well. Education opportunities and neighborhood socialization can increase. With more green space around, the mental and physical health of the population nearby may increase too. The aesthetic appeal of an urban city will certainly increase with the inclusion of green spaces. Lastly, property values and business activity can increase with increased sustainability, while also reducing money spent on infrastructure.  

Much of the sustainability knowledge we have today is not widely known. Because of this, it is important to advocate for the benefits of sustainable urban development, spread the word, and get out and vote for our environmentally informed leaders! 

For more information on sustainable places around the world, check out this article! https://earth.org/how-sustainable-cities-like-singapore-succeed-in-green-urban-development/  

            Living in Florida, it is easy to look outside and see aspects of the natural world all around. Planted in the ground, nestled into the crevices of trees, hanging from a balcony, planted in someone’s garden, and sprouting through the cracks of a sidewalk, Florida’s flowering plants can be seen almost anywhere you look. Although some of these beautiful flowers may be non-native to Florida (meaning the plant species did not originate in Florida), there are also plenty of native Florida flowers that grow naturally here. Bright beach sunflowers can be seen on the coastal lands, showing off their yellow color. Luscious coral honeysuckles can be seen all throughout Florida, maybe with a butterfly or hummingbird indulging in the flower. The peculiar swamp lily can be found in Florida all throughout wet, swamp-like habitats. There are even countless flowering trees native to Florida like the Lobolly Bay and Flowering Dogwood. These are just a few off the long list of Florida’s flowers. They are all exquisite and essential in their own way.

Florida is not the only place in the world with thousands of beautiful flowering plants. Almost every corner of the world has its own set of magnificent flowers that range in shapes and colors, all performing the same duties of a flower. That essential task of a flower is to carry the offspring of the plant so that more individuals of that species can be planted. Although the details of this process change with each kind of flower, they all carry the same basis of this job. In order for a plant to survive so that it can produce healthy offspring and exquisite flowers like this, it needs a few basic things: water, sunlight, and carbon dioxide. These are the substances that a plant needs to perform one of its most important functions, photosynthesis! Photosynthesis is defined as the process of a plant taking in water and carbon dioxide to produce glucose and oxygen as a byproduct. A long chemical equation is used to show exactly how this reaction happens, but the basis is that the plant consumes water and carbon dioxide, uses sunlight as a catalyst, and creates glucose as the main product and oxygen as a byproduct of the equation. All organisms must consume some form of glucose to produce energy and go about their normal functions. This includes humans too! Humans and other animals have the ability to search for their glucose and consume it that way. Plants, however, cannot walk around and find glucose, so they must make it for themselves. This is the purpose of photosynthesis.

 Photosynthesis is a largely beneficial process because, not only does it create glucose for the plant to use as energy, but it also creates oxygen for other organisms around the plant to consume. This highlights the incredible significance of plants in the lives of humans.

Because of that, it is the duty of humans to protect these plant species and advocate for the integration of more native plants into the land. May 30^th is National Water a Flower Day, so it is the perfect time to go out into nature, appreciate the beauty of the flowers around you and all that they can do, start growing some native flowering plants, and water your garden!

Do you know what plants are native to Florida? Check out this list from the University of Florida for more information on all the native plants you can grow right in your own backyard!  https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/ornamentals/native-plants.html

American alligators are very well known around the country; however, they are highly recognized here in Florida because they are the state reptile. There are a few unique characteristics about the American alligator. Here in the Everglades ecosystem, they can be seen basking in the sun or in action as they move through the water. Sometimes, they are camouflaged so well, they may not even be seen in their environment. American alligators are also known for their characteristic gray/black color. This helps them hide in plain sight below the surface of the water so they can sneak up on their prey.  This action is very similar to what larger predators like lions and tigers do when hunting. This process of waiting and watching to sneak up on prey is what characterizes these animals as ambush predators. Ambush predators are more efficient hunters than others as they are often waiting and expending less energy than other animals.

While alligators are well recognized animals, their importance to the Everglades ecosystem is not as well known. American alligators are a keystone species here in the Everglades. A keystone species is defined as an animal species that plays such a vital role in the ecosystem that, if removed, it would entirely change the ecosystem. Other examples of keystone species here in the U.S. include the gray wolf, beaver, bison, and the gopher tortoise. The American alligator was discovered to be a keystone species when Florida scientists noticed a change in the ecosystem after some drastic decreases in Florida’s American alligator populations during the 1960’s. With more research, it was discovered that the alligators provide something commonly known as “gator holes” in their ecosystem. During the dry season, the alligators dig holes in the ground that are often several feet deep. In the wet season, as there tends to be a lot of rain, these holes fill up with water. These new water holes serve as habitats for many other organisms, besides the American alligator. Animals like fish, birds, turtles, and even small insects utilize gator holes during the dry season when the water levels are lower. These “gator holes” classify the American alligator as a keystone species.

Due to this discovery, scientists and conservationists have been working to improve alligator populations all over Florida. The species was placed on the endangered species list in 1967 which allowed for access to federal funding and resources to help protect this species. The populations have since made a recovery and have been listed as “least concern”. Although this is a positive thing for the American alligator, there are still problems that threaten the survival of this species today. Hazards like wetland drainage and urban development have led to habitat loss for the alligators. Invasive species like the Tegu lizard and Burmese python have also caused harm to the species. Currently, lots of work is being done to remove threats like these and protect the habitats for these essential native Florida species. Maintenance of wetland habitats in the Everglades and protection of private and public lands in south Florida are just some of the ways this species is being protected.

For hundreds of millions of years, trees have been an essential part of the Earth’s environment. From a very young age, we are taught about the importance of trees and all the services they provide. However, many people are not aware of the different “categories” of trees or which kinds of trees belong in different places. In many parts of the world, there are trees, bushes, insects, reptiles, mammals, and all sorts of other organisms that live somewhere where they are not considered native. Being “native” to an area means that the organism originated there and belongs in that area permanently. A “non-native” organism is one that lives in an area in which it does not belong and was brought there by unnatural means. Some of these means include trees brought to Florida for aesthetic landscaping purposes, even though the species did not originate here. The state of Florida is, unfortunately, one of the areas of the world that is riddled with non-native species. This highlights the importance of getting to know the native species of Florida! 

Florida has over 300 native tree species, which is more than almost every other state in the U.S. This is a very wide-ranging list because of the many different ecosystem types found in Florida. There are three mangrove species found in Florida: the red, black, and white mangrove trees, many of these populations being found in the Florida Keys. There are also many tree species found in the Everglades, including Cypress trees like the bald cypress and pond cypress species, or the hardwood hammocks. In other parts of Florida, there are countless pine tree species like the longleaf, shortleaf, sand, slash, and spruce pines. There are also many different oak tree species found native to Florida like the Red, White, Live, and Shumard oaks. All these tree species are just a fraction of the number of native tree species found in Florida and each of them plays a niche role in the ecosystem, upholding the biodiversity of the beautiful state.  

Trees offer many natural services for humans including things like shade and air filtration. They can also have positive impacts on longevity and cause a decrease in stress levels in humans who spend time around them. Additionally, native trees also help ensure Florida’s environment is kept natural and preserved for as long as possible. Trees also store carbon and use carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas) to produce oxygen. By absorbing water through their roots and releasing it as water vapor (evapotranspiration), trees cool the air around them.  By preserving native tree species, other animals and organisms in the environment are positively impacted because of the availability of natural resources like food, water, and habitats that are provided to them. One of the best ways you can incorporate more native Florida species into the environment is by bringing some native trees into your own backyard. Many of these tree species act as great outlets for landscaping, offering a variety of different types and sizes to fit almost any area. Because they are native and adapted to the Florida environment, they require less maintenance and are resistant to most diseases and pests. 

May 16^th is National Love a Tree Day so make sure to get outside, show some appreciation for trees around you, and maybe plant a native Florida tree! 

One of the biggest challenges facing today’s climate worldwide is the hunt for clean, renewable energy sources. For centuries, the environment has been degraded through fossil fuel energy systems. Fossil fuels are substances formed from geologic fossils that can be burned to create energy. These include things like coal and gas. When burned at such large quantities, like they are in the U.S., these fossil fuels create a large problem for the earth’s climate and natural environment all around us. In short, the extensive use of fossil fuels for energy emits large amounts of dangerous gases into the air, causing the atmosphere to rise in temperature. The use of fossil fuels has had a significant impact on the nature and wildlife of the world that we know and love.  

However, in 1970, a multiple century-old tool was repurposed to counteract this impact. Windmills have been around since 500-900 A.D. From then and throughout much of the 18^th and 19^th centuries, windmills were used for pumping water, processing grain, and other agricultural purposes. Windmills were originally constructed out of wood and were much less powerful than the windmills we know today. It wasn’t until the 12^th century that these useful structures were built out of brick or stone, making them much studier and dynamic. Fast forward to the 20^th century, windmills were being restructured to start producing energy! This was a great achievement and had lasting positive effects on the environment. Windmills can now be used to cultivate clean energy, a type of energy that does not produce any harmful or dangerous byproducts. Windmills do have some drawbacks. Because of their immense size, they can create noise and visual pollution, being a sort of eyesore to local people. Windmills also rely on clear weather to function, which can mean that wind power cannot be generated 24/7.  Despite these faults, windmills have lots of advantages for clean energy. Homes, businesses, and even entire towns and cities can be powered from wind energy with little negative impact on the environment. In the modern world, these energy efficient windmills are known as wind turbines.  

Every year, the second Saturday of May is National Windmill Day, this year being celebrated on May 11^th. This provides us with an opportunity to appreciate windmills and the wonderous tools they are, while advocating for their use all around the world. There are more than 57,000 wind turbines in the U.S. today.  

To celebrate National Windmill Day, here are some fun facts about windmills to tell a friend! 

• Most wind turbines in the world turn in a clockwise direction and some scientists now suggest that the direction of the turn can generate more wind power in some cases. 
• Some of the oldest windmills still existing are in the Netherlands.  
• One strong windmill can power up to 500 individual homes!