Making a Difference You Can Measure

Several pairs of wet, muddy sneakers are sitting out tonight. It's a great feeling when you can point to a day's work and say, "I did that." There are tangible, lasting results because of the work these students put in today.

The shorelines of this already skinny island near Palo Seco have already retreated about 60 feet on both sides since the mangrove trees were first cut down to improve the view 50 years ago. Now they are trying to reclaim the shoreline by replanting the mangroves before the island disappears, the ocean invades the swamp, and the biodiversity is ruined. People live on this island. Their very homes are being threatened as is the health of the environment on which they rely. This is a problem, and this is how they intend to fix it.

In the morning, we placed a countless number of mangrove seeds, called propogules, about 6-8 inches in length, into cut bottles filled with sediment. Students were cutting bottles, digging sediment, filling bottles, and placing seedlings in muddy-handed glory. After they sprout, they will be transplanted to the river bank. With their new roots, they will be less likely to be swept away by the current or tides.

After lunch, we tried another approach to mangrove reforestation that is occuring simultaneously. The seedlings, called propogules were planted in three rows protected by 2 rows of slightly larger mangrove saplings, and then by 3 rows of stakes driven into the ground to prevent debris from river currents and tides from washing away the young plants before they can take root. Students were using machetes to prepare the stakes (with supervision of course), digging the ditches, positioning the stakes, pounding the stakes, more ditches, more stakes, more pounding, planting the saplings, and placing the propogules all in swampy river bank that consumes each leg up to mid-calf. Now 20 yards of swampy Palo Seca shoreline has been re-planted with mangrove trees, protecting it from erosion and improving the biodiversity of the area. Mangroves curvy tangled roots anchor the soil, provide shelter for many animals, and serves as a nursery for fish and bird nests.

Students also conducted a plant and animal inventory, recording all the instances of different animals and flora/fauna observed in our area. This is real data used to measure the animal populations and biodiversity in the area. Each group that comes adds to the data set and it will remain on record for generations to analyze.

The most important take away is more than just proper machete technique. It is the example set by the people of this community. They identified a real threat to their land, their environment, and their future. They put a plan together to address it and took action. It's more than just a poster, it's more than a lecture, it's more than a research paper. Raising awareness is important, but you have to get your hands dirty. That is what this is all about. As we head toward the conference this weekend, we hope to develop design thinking skills in these students that will allow them to go back home and make a difference you can measure.