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These Reserves protect our State’s precious coastal ecosystems. The ecosystems
are teeming with life in the air, on the ground and under the water. Each system
requires our thoughtful attention and appraisal. An undisturbed maritime forest
or section of the barrier island can serve as a comparison to developed areas.
Water quality, barrier island hydrology, storm damage and erosion can be
compared and contrasted between the Reserves and developed areas. The sites
serve as an irreplaceable laboratory for education and management-oriented
research. Maritime forests have been shaped by wind and salt spray throughout
the several hundred years they have risen from the dunes. Thriving in a hostile
environment, live oaks shade and protect trees that are less well adapted to
salt spray. Grazing, fires, logging, harsh weather and development gradually
have chipped away much of these forests, so that today, only about 12,000 acres
of maritime forest survive on our barrier islands. Estuaries serve as a nursery
for juvenile fish, a storage basin for nutrients and buffer from storms. They
are also susceptible to chemical runoff and other forms of air and water
pollution. As the human population increases, so do the cumulative impacts to
our treasured coastal resources. We are all responsible for the good health of
our estuaries, maritime forests and coastal systems. This means learning about
the stunning varieties of coastal life. It means showing respect for these
ecosystems by keeping them free of pollution. It means sharing your insight and
respect with other people. |