Preservation and Stewardship

Along Alabama’s Coastal Connection, preserving our natural resources is a number one priority. The variety of waters, miles of shoreline and diversity of plants and animals that thrive there is the cornerstone of our ecosystem, our quality of life and our economy.

As you travel along our highways and shorelines, please consider these practices during your visit:

Avoid walking on vegetation; plant roots hold the fragile dunes together.

Explore away from bird nesting areas. Human presence can frighten adult birds, causing them to leave their young unattended. Also, nests may be located in the ground and camouflaged to resemble the surrounding environment; you can easily step on them.

Dispose of all your garbage properly. You can even pick up others’ trash along the way. Fish, birds, sea turtles and mammals can become entangled in fishing line. Plastic bags floating in the water resemble jellyfish; sea turtles can mistakenly eat them.

Invest in a reusable bag to carry your shopping purchases to avoid using plastic bags. You’ll be stylish and create less waste!

Keep the natural ecosystem intact by avoiding the removal of shells, driftwood or other items you may find during your island explorations.

There are a variety of programs in place to help both residents and visitors take an active role in preservation efforts. Below are two examples. We invite you to get involved.

Coastal Cleanup

The third Saturday in September of each year means Coastal Cleanup time in Alabama! In conjunction with the International Coastal Cleanup, hundreds of volunteers come out to “get the trash out of the splash.”

This annual event is made possible by the corporate sponsors, zone captains and more than 4,500 volunteers who dedicate their time and resources to this successful effort. The cleanup is sponsored by Partners Against a Littered State (PALS) and the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources/Coastal Section.

If you are visiting on that Saturday in September, join the community and spend a day keeping our shoreline clean.

Share the Beach

From May through October each year we share our beaches with dozens of mama sea turtles. These endangered animals are looking for a safe place to make a nest where their babies can hatch, then find their way safely into the warm gulf waters. Thousands of hatchlings take their first steps right here on our shores each year. Many of them need a helping hand to reach the water. The many volunteers of the Share the Beach program give them just that. Learn more about our marine friends and how you can recognize their nests, increase their chances of survival, and support the volunteers who Share the Beach with them each year.