CELEBRATE NATIONAL PUBLIC LANDS DAY AND NATIONAL ESTUARIES DAY WITH THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

CELEBRATE NATIONAL PUBLIC LANDS DAY AND NATIONAL ESTUARIES DAY WITH THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION -Events highlight the benefits of public lands and the importance of coastal protection-   TALLAHASSEE – In honor of both National Public Lands Day and National Estuaries Day on September 27, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is encouraging Floridians and visitors to participate in educational activities statewide that will highlight the annual celebrations. There are events taking place at state parks as well as the DEP-managed greenways and trails statewide, while events being held at Florida's three National Estuarine Research Reserves, managed by the Florida DEP, will hold events exploring estuary habitats and wildlife. There will be several events where volunteers and families can participate in restoration and land management projects.   "These two nationally recognized celebrations are a great opportunity for Floridians and visitors to enjoy and help preserve and care for the lands we inhabit," said DEP Secretary Michael W. Sole. "Florida's estuaries and public lands provide an excellent quality of life for residents and benefit local economies."   National Public Lands Day began in 1994 and is the nation's largest hands-on volunteer effort, designed to improve and enhance the public lands that are enjoyed by millions of local and international visitors each year. This year also marks the 75th anniversary of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), which planted an estimated 3 billion trees on public lands beginning in the 1930s. To honor the CCC's legacy, this year's events will focus on tree planting. National Public Lands Day is spearheading an initiative to plant 1 million trees between Aug. 25 and Sept. 27. Each of Florida's 48 National Public Lands Day sites has different activities planned, ranging from planting shrubbery or trees to removing exotic species and trash.   National Estuaries Day began in 1988 and has matured into a national campaign with festivities across the country, encouraging the protection and preservation of aquatic environments where freshwater bodies meet marine waterways.     National Public Lands Day events in Florida:     Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway Saturday, September 27, 2008 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Land Bridge Trailhead 11100 SW 16th Avenue Ocala, Florida (352) 236-7143 Volunteers will join staff in maintenance of hiking, biking and equestrian trails.  Please bring gloves and clippers. Please RSVP for picnic lunch to follow. www.floridagreenwaysandtrails.com   Big Talbot Island State Park Saturday, September 27, 2008 9:00 a.m. 12157 Heckscher Drive Jacksonville, Florida (904) 251-2320 Volunteers are invited to help with a cleanup on the Buffs on Big Talbot Island.  http://www.floridastateparks.org/bigtalbotisland/   John U. Lloyd Beach State Park Saturday, September 27, 2008 9:00 a.m. 6503 N. Ocean Drive Dania, Florida (954) 923-2833 Volunteers are invited to help staff pull exotic vegetation and clean the park.  Participants should meet in the first parking lot just north of the entrance station at the south footbridge. http://www.floridastateparks.org/lloydbeach/   River Rise Preserve State Park Saturday, September 27, 2008 9:00 a.m. 410 SE Oleno Park Road High Springs, Florida (386) 454-1853 Volunteers are invited to help trim and clear different trails throughout the park.  http://www.floridastateparks.org/riverrise/default.cfm   The Barnacle Historic Site State Park Saturday, September 27, 2008 9:00 a.m. 3485 Main Highway Coconut Grove, Florida (305) 442-6866 Volunteers are invited to participate in an exotic plant removal party in the hardwood hammock and a coastal cleanup along the shoreline.  http://www.floridastateparks.org/TheBarnacle/   Wakulla Springs State Park Saturday, September 27, 2008 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. 550 Wakulla Park Drive Wakulla Springs, Florida (850) 926-0700 Volunteers will join staff in repairing portions of the nature trails to improve visitor access. Work clothes and shoes are required.  Work gloves and a water bottle are suggested.  Lunch will be provided to all participants.  http://www.floridastateparks.org/WAKULLASPRINGS/   National Estuaries Day events in Florida:     Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve Friday, September 26, 2008 2:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m. Nature Center 261 Seventh Street Apalachicola, Florida (850) 653-8063 Families are invited to participate in activities that focus on the importance of estuaries and the need to protect them. Events include boat tours (children must be 8 or older), guided nature trail walks and a wacky waterfront race.  www.dep.state.fl.us/coastal/sites/apalachicola   Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve Environmental Education Center Saturday, September 27, 2008 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. 505 Guana River Road Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida (850) 823-4500 Families are invited to enjoy presentations by the nationally recognized group of professional puppeteers "The Puppet People", best known for their people-sized puppets.  There will be various other activities that focus on estuaries and the need to protect them in addition to live music, live animal presentations, kayak tours and more. www.dep.state.fl.us/coastal/sites/gtm   Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve Environmental Learning Center Friday, September 26, 2008 and Saturday, September 27, 2008 Activities ongoing all day 300 Tower Road Naples, Florida (239) 417-6310 A Friday evening reception will commemorate the establishment of the Reserve and recognize some of the contributors who have helped protect the Reserve.  On Saturday, activities planned include boat tours, guided walks, kayaking, presentations and more. www.dep.state.fl.us/coastal/sites/rookery   For more information on Florida's state parks, greenways and trails, and the three National Estuarine Research Reserves, visit www.dep.state.fl.us.