Thursday, October 2, 2014

Public Relations in Environmental Protection and Conservation of the Gulf Coast.


Gulf Coast Beach-Sandpipers-Photographed by Hamishe Randall


Where It All Started

The Gulf Coast is my home; I take great pride in the unique beauty and diversity of its environment and wildlife. The Pensacola Bay area is home to a wide variety of wildlife such as fox, bear, river otter, four species of sea turtles, and an abundance of song and shorebirds such as the Sandpipers. The area's flora population is also diverse: Ruppia maritime, a seagrass, and Conradina grandiflora, a native mint, are examples of native flora home to the Gulf Coast.

I began working with the D.E.P. in 2003 for Project GreenShores. Project GreenShores is a habitat restoration and creation project along the urban shoreline of Pensacola Bay. The project stabilizes the shoreline and provides essential habitat for wildlife. After participating in that project, I was enthralled by the compassion of the individuals around me and inspired to be a part of environmental conservation.

I wanted to further my education in flora and fauna and I have worked in a variety of places to do so. I have a diploma in Herbology from Dominion Herbal College in Vancouver B.C. I worked in marine biology labs growing, researching and testing algae and worked in a plant nursery specializing in local flora. I also volunteered with the Wildlife Sanctuary of Northwest Florida. I look forward to participating in future projects to protect and conserve wildlife and the environment.


Public Relations and Environmental Conservation

So how does PR tie into all this? An essential element in environmental conservation is public relations. PR is the bridge that connects the public to a passion. That passion can be a company mission or product, or an organization's project. PR professionals help companies accomplish their mission, effectively communicating the purpose of their project or product so that an organization and the public can work towards common goals.

I hope to assist organizations that are striving to conserve and protect the Gulf Coast environment.


What’s Coming Next?

There are plenty of exciting environmental projects happening in the Gulf Coast. I look forward to sharing and discussing these projects with you, as well as exploring current environmental issues in the Gulf Coast.

Are you passionate about the Gulf Coast's environment and know of any conservation projects. If so I’d love to hear from you.

See you next time and don’t forget the popcorn.

-The Occasional Ham Sandwich