to reduce pollutants in Biscayne Bay. (PHOTO: Kress Communications)
From afar, the breathtaking waters of Biscayne Bay appear so inviting, tranquil, and healthy. Seemingly taking care of itself, just below the surface of Miami-Dade’s most outstanding natural resource, there is a storm rising.
Due to the tremendous population growth of the cities straddling its shores, Biscayne Bay is being impacted by a staggering amount of marine & estuarine debris, as well as sewer, storm water pollutants, fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides.
Government agencies, community organizations, universities and thousands of community volunteers have, for years, organized cleanups of the Bay’s shoreline to remove marine debris and litter from the Bay’s delicate ecosystem. However, these efforts are not enough.
Now, in an effort to establish collaboration amongst diverse stakeholders, a group of more than 30 Florida-based environmental NGOs, government entities, universities, and others are coming together to coordinate a summit to address these growing concerns.
During the 2017 Biscayne Bay Marine Health Inaugural Summit (BBMHS), June 28 (8 a.m. – 6 p.m.), participants will create and launch a 10-year action plan for reducing pollutants in Biscayne Bay as well as in Miami-Dade’s canals and rivers. The Summit takes place at the Florida International University Biscayne Bay Campus, School of Hospitality, Room HM, 3000 NE 151 Street, North Miami, FL 33181. (Registration information below.)
The Summit’s primary goal is to share ideas, expertise, and resources among Summit participants in order to design creative solutions through:
Prevention and education; Engineering and design improvements; Enhanced research; Enforcement of existing laws or creation of new ones; Waste/recycling removal processes, including community cleanups; and Maintenance.
The Summit aims to include all Miami-Dade County municipalities surrounding Biscayne Bay, including inland communities along canals and Miami River. Most of Biscayne Bay is designated as a State Aquatic Preserve or is part of Biscayne National Park, and is intended to be preserved for future generations as a public, shared natural resource.
Confirmed key speakers include:
- Harvey Ruvin, Miami-Dade County Clerk of the Courts
- Daniella Levine Cava, Miami-Dade County Commissioner-District 8
- Jim Murley, Miami-Dade County Chief Resiliency Officer
- Evelyn E. Geiser, Ph.D., FIU Executive Director-School of Environment, Arts & Society
- Charles Grisafi, Florida and Caribbean Regional Coordinator-NOAA Marine Debris Program
This Summit is a full-day “sustainable” event, catered to an expected 200 attendees. In addition, a Summit Vendor’s Exhibit is being is being offered.
Summit Steering Committee members include Luiz Rodrigues, Eco-Logical Solutions, Founder; Steve Sauls, FIU VP for Governmental Relations (retired); Irela Bagué – Bagué Group; Albert Gomez – South Florida Resilience System/Miami Sea Level Rise Committee, Coordinator; and Dave Doebler – Director VolunteerCleanup.org.
EVENT DETAILS:
The full-day Summit, which will include presentations, workshops, a potential small trade show and Bay tour, is geared towards NGOs, government staff, elected officials, educational institutions, national parks, as well as the fishing, boating, retail, hospitality, real estate, engineering, and waste/recycling industries, among others.
Through a series of carefully selected speakers, Summit attendees will learn about the present status of the health of the Bay, main sources of marine & estuarine debris as well as that of different point source & non-point source water pollutants, such as pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, storm drain runoff, sewer, amongst others; explore strategies that may proactively reduce the impact of the above pollutants; initiate visualization strategies towards the design of the Action Plan to protect and preserve the Bay.
EVENT REGISTRATION:
Even registration, breakfast, networking and trade show begin at 8 a.m., and opening remarks at 9 a.m. Trade show vendors will be available through 5 p.m. Visit Eventbrite to register and get tickets.
EVENT FEES:
The event is complimentary for university professors, members of NGOs, government staff and elected officials. A $25 fee will apply for students and $50 for general admission. Event attendance is anticipated at 220 and to be composed by heads of NGO’s, university students and professors, government officers, elected officials and business executives. Breakfast, break snacks and lunch included.
SPONSORSHIPS:
Becoming a Sponsor of the Biscayne Bay Marine Health Summit, will further establish your company as a leader in the protection and preservation of Biscayne Bay for our future generations. The Summit will be promoted throughout South Florida on strategic partner websites and social media sites, on social and civic calendars, and through email blasts to over 2,000 stakeholders. For sponsor and exhibitor information, contact Luiz Rodrigues via email at: luiz@ecologicalsol.com or call 786-853-1855.
GENERAL INFORMATION:
The 2017 Biscayne Bay Marine Health Inaugural Summit (BBMHS), takes place June 28 (8 a.m. – 6 p.m.) at the Florida International University Biscayne Bay Campus, School of Hospitality, Room HM, 3000 NE 151 Street, North Miami, FL 33181
- Register via Eventbrite at https://bbmhs2017.eventbrite.com
- Like the Summit on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/BiscayneBaySummit/
About Eco-Logical Solutions: Eco-Logical Solutions is a Miami-based sustainable operations and LEED consulting business, which assists businesses, homes and events on how to cut carbon emissions with solutions that will help them save money and the Earth’s future. Eco-Logical Solutions evaluates, recommends and implements affordable green changes for hotels, offices, restaurants, homes, etc.
CONTACTS:
Luiz Rodrigues, Founder of Eco-Logical Solutions
786-853-1855
luiz@ecologicalsol.com
Steve Sauls,FIU VP Gov’t Relations (retired)
786-239-8957
stevesauls1@aol.com
Bill Kress, President Kress Communications
305-763-2429
bill@kresscom.com
