Tom Ries is an ecologist and ecosystem restoration specialist, President and Founder of the Ecosphere Restoration Institute, and a national leader in wetland, seagrass, and living shoreline restoration who has conserved over 4,500 acres of habitat and led award-winning restoration projects across Florida.

He explains:


◼️ Why Florida’s historic springs were buried under concrete and parking lots


◼️ How restoring one urban spring immediately brought manatees back


◼️ What living shorelines do better than seawalls during storms and flooding


◼️ Where cities are losing massive stormwater capacity without realizing it


◼️ How public-private partnerships unlock millions in restoration funding


0:00:00 - Ulele Springs

0:07:41 - Living Shoreline

0:12:30 - Ulele Springs Continued

0:28:56 - West River Walk

0:33:20 - Ulele Springs Continued

0:40:14 - Palma Ceia Springs

1:06:17 - Purity and Sulphur Springs

1:27:13 - MacDill 48 Park

1:48:13 - Ballast Point Park

1:05:09 - New Cruise Port