Sarasota Bay Estuary Program thanks New College Student Volunteers

Thanks to the volunteers and New College of Florida students who helped us tie a bow on National #EstuariesWeek 2018! We spent Saturday morning visiting preserves around Manatee County to participate in the Tea Bag Index project. The Tea Bag Index is a global citizen science initiative to increase awareness and understanding of carbon sequestration in ecosystems around the world. We buried tea bags in 34 locations and will return in December to dig them up and determine how much tea decomposed. Sites where less tea decomposes are likely good carbon sinks, meaning that they absorb more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than they release. Sites like these are critical to mitigating global climate change. Endless thanks to our partners Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources Department and Tampa Bay Estuary Program.