The Tampa Bay Environmental Restoration Fund, founded by Restore America’s Estuaries, Southwest Florida Water Management District, and The Mosaic Company, has a clear vision – a future where estuaries and bays are healthy, thriving, and resilient ecosystems for both people and wildlife. It is supported through conservation, restoration, research, and education initiatives that promote and advance restoration and conservation of the Tampa Bay watershed.
We are working to ensure the longevity of one of Tampa Bay’s most critical resources remains intact through our support of Restore Americas Estuaries (RAE) initiative, the Tampa Bay Environmental Restoration Fund (TBERF). Our recent commitment of $75,000 to the TBERF further supports work to fund projects that restore and protect Tampa Bay’s wetland habitats, including bays and estuaries.
Over 4.3 million people of the Tampa Bay metropolitan area and its many visitors benefit by protecting the bay and the entire watershed and associated natural resources that are vital components of their environment, economy, and way of life.
A watershed is an area of land that collects and drains surface water, including rain and snow, into a body of water such as a pond, stream or river, or into the ground as groundwater. They are vital to a well-functioning ecosystem, performing many functions, including filtering pollutants from water.
“Mosaic’s support of this work has helped bring about increased coastal resilience, new habitat for vital species, and improved water quality. RAE appreciates Mosaic’s longstanding and generous support of TBERF and looks forward to working together in the year ahead to continue delivering the water quality, economic, climate, and quality-of-life benefits associated with coastal restoration to the residents of the Tampa community,” says Daniel Hayden, President of Restore America’s Estuaries.
The funding is also part of our wider commitment to reducing our impact and improving our use of shared resources. Since 2014, we have provided $450,000 to TBERF and $20,000 to RAE, which has helped restore over 1,130 acres of wetlands. Projects funded through the TBERF leave a lasting impact on the environment, wildlife, and natural resources found in Tampa Bay, ensuring the community enjoys wetland habitats for generations to come.
On March 22, UN World Water Day, we announced $1.7 million and in-kind support to water-focused initiatives, including support for Restore Americas Estuaries (RAE) initiative, the Tampa Bay Environmental Restoration Fund (TBERF). Read more here.