A 13-year-old Fort Myers native is making a major difference in mangrove restoration.

When Wade Johnson was in second grade, the MANG brothers visited his classroom. They taught him all about the vital role mangroves play in our ecosystem and the need to preserve them. Since then, Wade has been dedicated to the cause.

SCCF’s Coastal Watch said years ago, Wade collected black and white mangrove propagules. They were transported to MANG’s greenhouse and grown into seedlings. In a full circle moment, Wade was recently able to plant the seedlings with Coastal Watch volunteers.

Mangroves provide essential habitats for thousands of species and serve as nurseries for fish and other marine life. SCCF said if we don’t restore and protect mangrove forests, it would throw the coastal ecosystem off balance and some species could die off. Mangroves also stabilize and protect the shoreline and the people who live along it.