Rockaway Beach Dunes Get a Lift from Surfrider

Originally posted on SURFER | By Owen James Burke | Last updated Oct 2, 2024 12:17 PM ET

During this year’s Climate Week NYC, Rockaway Beach’s ever-shifting sand dunes got a fresh plug of some 1,600 native plants across seven blocks of secondary dunes thanks to more than 40 dedicated volunteers on behalf of a joint initiative by Surfrider NYC and RISE (Rockaway Initiative for Sustainability and Equity), a local nonprofit working to combat sea-level rise, storm surges, and erosion–perhaps all one in the same, depending upon whom you ask, but that’s neither here nor there.

The event was part of RISE’s “Greater Rockaway” Coastal Resilience Plan, which isn’t only trying to shore up Queens’ beaches but its community at large through civic engagement, youth programs, and urban development, including the 28-acre Waterfront Park, a former illegal dumping lot in front of a popular stretch of jetty-groomed peaks, and something for which New York City surfers–this occasional one included–should be eternally grateful.

“While thousands of climate activists, advocates, thinkers, and leaders descended on NYC for Climate Week, we at Surfrider wanted to get people out of the conference rooms and into the field to make a tangible difference now,” said Surfrider’s Sr. Environmental Director Zach Plopper. “Thanks to RISE for their leadership on climate action and partnering with Surfrider to improve the resilience of Rockaway and engaging the new generation of coastal stewards.”

“I'm so inspired by the dedication of our volunteers to enhancing coastal resilience,” wrote Surfrider staffer and Climate Action Program Manager Carla Avila-Martine of the turnout. “Their hard work during NYC Climate Week shows the power of community-driven climate action. Healthy ecosystems, like restored dunes, are our frontline defense against climate change impacts—it's truly nature protecting nature. As we push forward with the Climate Action Program, it's clear that we must stop the use of fossil fuels and prioritize restoring degraded ecosystems and protecting our natural world.”

After launching a climate action program earlier this year, Surfrider is looking to fill out its East Coast presence, recently hiring its first East Coast Director. And while the Foundation’s New York City chapter doesn’t have any employees on payroll, it does have a dedicated group of some 400 members working to protect the city’s ocean frontage.

If you’d like to get involved with Surfrider’s New York City Chapter, visit their volunteer page, and check out their news page to stay up-to-date on local happenings.

This article first appeared on SURFER and was syndicated with permission.

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