Volunteers Needed to Help Protect Endangered Plant July 1 & 15
FORT PIERCE – St. Lucie County’s Environmental Resources Department is once again partnering with Bok Towers Gardens to host a series of volunteer events that will help ensure the survival of a very rare endangered plant species. Volunteers are needed to assist. This will be in the removal of exotic and overgrown vegetation at St. Lucie County’s Lakela’s Mint Preserve to protect the endemic Lakela’s Mint population on Saturday, July 1 and July 15 from 8 to 11 a.m.
Located at 5600 U.S. 1 North Fort Pierce, adjacent to the Ocean Discovery Center at FAU’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, the preserve is home to one of the largest wild populations of the federally-endangered Lakela’s Mint, which is only found at a few places in St. Lucie and Indian River Counties, and nowhere else in the world.
Volunteers are asked to bring gloves, hand-tools and water. Sunscreen, a hat, and insect repellent are also recommended. Additional water will be provided, along with a light lunch. Volunteers will be required to sign a liability waiver prior to working.
Anyone interested in volunteering should contact the St. Lucie County Environmental Resources Department staff at 772-462-2526 or email thompsonam@stlucieco.org. Space is limited to 30 volunteers per day. Please sign-up early to reserve your space and help become a steward to one of the world’s rarest plant species.
