John,
Loggerhead sea turtles rely on coastal beaches and waters for survival. And right now, they’re relying on you to speak out and demand wildlife-friendly disaster protection measures.
Will you take a moment to take action in support of restoring and creating natural infrastructure that can better protect coastal communities and help wildlife?
Not all disaster protection measures protect communities and provide wildlife habitat at the same time. After Hurricane Harvey, we saw proof that natural barriers like sand dunes and beaches can be more effective than hard seawalls at withstanding severe storms and protecting coastal communities. Restoring salt marshes and natural floodplains, replenishing barrier islands and beaches, and protecting coral reefs are important efforts for both helping buffer communities from disasters and benefiting wildlife in these habitats.
Loggerheads need access to sandy shores to make their nests and healthy coastal waters with seagrass forests to hide from predators. ‘Gray’ infrastructure like seawalls can block turtles from reaching their nesting beaches and can impede the growth of underwater plants that coastal wildlife need to thrive.
‘Green’ flood barriers can be less expensive, better for wildlife, and more stable in the face of sea level rise and erosion, unlike seawalls that erode and crumble. By preserving and restoring our natural flood barriers like salt marshes and coral reefs, we’re making the right choice for our environment, our communities, and our wildlife.
Will you make the right choice right now and show your support for wildlife-friendly disaster protection projects?
For only a few weeks, the Federal Emergency Management Agency is accepting public input on an important updated grant program that aims to protect at-risk communities before disasters happen.
We have an opportunity to ensure natural infrastructure that benefits wildlife like sea turtles is a priority in disaster preparedness efforts and also save taxpayer dollars—for every $1 we invest in these natural mitigation measures, we could save $6 in post-disaster recovery.
Please speak out now, we are counting on your voice for wildlife-friendly disaster protection.
