By ARABELLA SERRATA
Special to the PRESS
Sea Turtle Inc [STI] is collecting Christmas trees to rebuild dunes. Those who have a real Christmas tree left over from the holiday season can donate it to STI and help give it a new purpose on the beach.
“Our Christmas trees are going to help with dune restoration by catching the sand and helping to trap that sand, which builds the dune back up,” said Dr. Amy Bonka.
During the wintertime, the dunes are “thinner” due to the storms in the area from the summer prior.
“Hopefully that restoration is going to build them up to make it [the dunes] wider and taller,” said Bonka.
The dunes found on SPI protect the corral that houses sea turtle eggs and “everything on the Island,” said Bonka.
According to the National Centers on Coastal Ocean Science [NCCOS], dunes are a “habitat for wildlife, tourism, recreation and carbon sequestration” as well as a “defense from surge and waves during storm events.”
“The taller and wider the dunes are, the more they can protect,” said Bonka.
This annual drop-off has been going on for years. This year, STI is aiming for 20-30 trees.
Natural Christmas trees can be dropped off from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. until Jan. 4. They can be placed at the grassy area next to the main gate. There are signs to guide visitors. Bonka invites anyone who donates a tree to “check out Sea Turtle Inc. and support the mission.”
Sea Turtle Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the rehabilitation, rescue and release of Sea Turtles. For more information on them and their mission, visit their website at seaturtleinc.org. For consistent updates on the organization, visit their official Facebook page. They are located at 6617 Padre Boulevard, South Padre Island, and open Tuesday-Sunday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Those who find a dead, injured or stranded sea turtle can call the 24/7 emergency hotline at (956) 243-4361.
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