Marco to celebrate conservation with artists, authors, scientists

Photo by Bob Kenedi

Winner of the 2008 Community Conservation Celebration photo contest. Photographer Bob Kenedi won the "Creative Photograph" category of the last Community Conservation Celebration Native Flora and Fauna Photography Contest. Check out the event March 14 to see this year's winners. EAGLEi submission, photo by Bob Kenedi

Photo by Neil Pascoe

Nancy Richie, City of Marco Island Enviromental Specialist, holds 'Buffy, the Burrowing Owl' written by Betty Gilbert, one of the authors who will be signing their works at the Community Conservation Celebration at Mackle Park. Neil Pasco/ Special to the Eagle

MARCO ISLAND — There will be wildlife... there will be native Florida fauna... there will be hands-on activities... and, most of all, there will be education and fun.

It will all be part of the Community Conservation Celebration March 14.

The theme of the event is sharing the common goal of conserving and protecting natural resources. More than 40 organizations and individuals will be available to answer questions and explain what everyone can do to help maintain the environment.

“We’ll have people here from the Everglades National Park to Edison State College to the Marco Island Shell Club to the Friends of Tigertail,” pointed out Nancy Richie, Environmental Specialist of the City of Marco Island.

“This is the second year we’re doing this and are really looking forward to a wonderful event,” Richie added.

Unique native flora and fauna will be featured along with free demonstrations, community and student projects, exhibits from federal, state, and local agencies, local ‘green’ businesses, and photo and essay contests.

Local writers such as Tom Williams and Betty Gilbert, author of “Buffy, the Burrowing Owl,” will be there signing their books. Photo contest winners Tom Hecht, Marie Remick and Peter Foster will be exhibiting their works of art.

The theme of the photographs, per the contest parameters, are a visual celebration of all animal and plant species that inhabit Southwest Florida and the Everglades

“It should really be an exciting experience and we’re inviting everyone to come out and be a part of this wonderful event,” Richie said.

The second annual Community Conservation Celebration will be at Mackle Park, 1361 Andalusia Terrace, 9 a.m. through 2 p.m., Saturday, March 14.