The numbers have been crunched and the results are outstanding: During the first six months of 2009, volunteers with the Department of Environmental Resources Management (ERM) donated approximately 2,700 hours toward preserving Palm Beach County’s environment. This equates to a savings of *$30,364 to the county.
Since January, nearly 800 volunteers have worked on 39 habitat restoration projects in natural areas and restoration areas throughout the county. They removed 16,672 pounds of trash and invasive exotic plants from woods, scrublands and along the Intracoastal Waterway. The collected trash items ranged from a suitcase and an in-line skate to kitchen appliances and two cast iron bath tubs.
Volunteers planted 10,191 native grasses, shrubs and trees at wetland and scrubland restoration projects. They also carved an additional 425 feet of the Ocean to Lake Hiking Trail, installed 300 feet of wire mesh fencing, and potted 1,876 seedlings in ERM’s nursery.
The department’s volunteer program is a valuable tool that offers land managers a reliable supply of energetic workers willing to fight the heat, insects and terrain to protect our county’s natural treasures.
For more information on joining ERM’s volunteer program, please visit ERM’s Web site at www.pbcgov.com/erm or e-mail amathews@co.palm-beach.fl.us.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Dollar value of donated volunteer hours calculated using May 2008 metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area occupational employment and wage estimates for West Palm Beach /Boca Raton /Boynton Beach metropolitan division on US Dept. of Labor’s Web site: www.bls.gov
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Photos of volunteers at work available at pbcgov.com/erm/action.htm
# # #
Government
