FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec. 1, 2011
DEP’S GTM NERR CELEBRATES RESEARCH, CONSERVATION AND EDUCATION AT THE STATE OF THE RESERVE
~State of the Reserve conference to highlight the importance of understanding more about Florida’s valuable estuarine environments~
 GTM Research Reserve protects 73,352 acres south of the City of Jacksonville (Duval County) in St. Johns County and Flagler County on the northeast coast of Florida.
PONTE VEDRA BEACH- Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) invites the public to attend the annual Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve (GTM NERR) State of the Reserve conference. The conference is an annual event that showcases the Reserve’s current and ongoing research programs. Presentations led by researchers, are planned throughout the afternoon, and informative posters will be displayed throughout the reserve. The conference concludes with a reception sponsored by the Friends of the Reserve.
During the conference, GTM NERR researchers will discuss the current status of research projects and results. Topics include alligators as apex predators, gopher tortoise ecology and system wide water quality monitoring, as well as a report from the GTM Invasive Plant Task Force.
“The GTM NERR looks forward to many more years of working with our local community to educate and inspire future generations, while continuing to preserve our precious natural and historic resources.” said Mike Shirley, Director of the GTM NERR.
The State of the Reserve conference will conclude with a reception and poster session.
The event will take place:
Friday, Dec. 2, 2011
1 p.m. - 6 p.m.
GTM Research Reserve
Environmental Education Center
505 Guana River Road
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082
Phone number: (904) 823-4500
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