Enhancing Stewardship and Sustainability

Marine debris is prevalent throughout coastal Mississippi. Similar to worldwide trends, data from the Mississippi Coastal and Inland Cleanup Programs shows that most debris are composed of single-use materials such as water bottles, to-go food supplies, and household item bottles. Given most of these items are single-use and replaceable with reusable or compostable materials, increased awareness about misplaced waste issues and how to prevent them through behavior change could lead to a substantial reduction of marine debris in coastal Mississippi. To enact change and provide informative, actionable, and impactful waste prevention education, a team of extension and education specialists from the Mississippi State University Coastal Research and Extension Center partner with local schools and surrounding communities to teach sustainability. Here, we introduce a novel prevention program "SWAPS," Sustainability with Awareness and Prevention Solutions. SWAPS utilizes in-person education combined with action components and sustainable tangible goods for participants to immediately enact habit changes learned. A series of four educational modules, following Mississippi science standards, were developed as a guide for extension professionals and educators to implement within their regions. Modules cover four themes: 1) Investigation of microplastics, 2) Reducing food waste, 3) Eliminating single-use plastic, and 4) Litter control programs. Each module has an action component and an accompanying sustainable good reflected upon the module. This is the first program (to our knowledge) in the northern GoM region that provides sustainable education, action components, and tangible goods so participants can enact change for the greatest impacts on environmental stewardship utilizing prevention practices.

This presentation will explore comprehensive strategies for fostering sustainability across multiple sectors, grounded in the expertise and experiences gained while coordinating recent sustainability projects in the Mobile, AL community. The focus will be on systematic approaches that integrate effective planning, innovative solutions, and measurable outcomes to enhance sustainability on a broader scale.
Key areas of emphasis include:
Education for Sustainability: This section will address the development of tailored educational curricula and lesson plans designed for diverse audiences, including communities, businesses, and educational institutions. The curricula are informed by real-world examples and case studies, underscoring the critical role of education in advancing sustainability.
Train-the-Trainer Programs: The presentation will detail the implementation of "Train-the-Trainer" programs aimed at equipping educators, community leaders, and business professionals with the necessary knowledge and skills to promote sustainable practices. These programs are designed to create a multiplier effect, enabling widespread dissemination of sustainability principles.
Community Connections and Volunteer Management: Attention will be given to the creation of a robust volunteer management system that effectively aligns motivated individuals with relevant sustainability initiatives. The platform developed facilitates streamlined and impactful community engagement, ensuring that volunteer efforts are both meaningful and effective.
Attendees will gain practical insights into the application of these strategies across various contexts. The presentation will draw on success stories, lessons learned, and quantitative metrics to demonstrate the significant impact of these initiatives on advancing sustainability. Longleaf Consulting, LLC's established success in developing and implementing sustainable solutions underscores its role as a key contributor to the conference's theme. The presentation aspires to encourage the adoption of sustainable practices and to address challenges within different domains. Additionally, it will provide students and professionals an insight into working with non-profit, government sectors, and for-profit companies in the environmental education and sustainability field. 

The world is pivoting. As economies transition to become more sustainable and resilient, the Northern Gulf Coast must navigate this change. Traditionally reliant on fishing, tourism, and oil and gas, our region now has the opportunity to become a leader in "green and blue" technologies and markets, integrating waste reduction and reduced emissions with sustainable marine resource management.
Offshore wind offers significant potential to reduce fossil fuel dependence and create jobs, and solar microgrids increase resilience in the face of stronger storms. Sustainable fisheries are crucial for ecological and economic stability, while eco-tourism provides a pathway for economic diversification. Niche industries like seaweed farming are emerging and contributing to carbon sequestration, water quality improvement, and the production of food, biofuels, and other valuable products.
The success of this transition relies on strategic use of funding from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), which offer substantial support for renewable energy, infrastructure, and coastal resilience projects. Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs) and Impact Investing also have a crucial role to play in funding this transition, among others.
Through interdisciplinary collaboration, policy development, and public-private partnerships, the Northern Gulf Coast can position itself as a leader in sustainable economic development, ensuring a resilient and prosperous future for its communities, ecosystems, and industries.

In an era where social media is often a primary source of information, environmental professionals have a unique opportunity to engage broader audiences and promote stewardship initiatives. However, effectively growing and maintaining an engaged audience remains a challenge. This presentation explores the impact of human-centric content-posts featuring individuals-on social media engagement within the context of coastal science and stewardship communication. Through an analysis of the Mississippi State University Coastal Conservation and Restoration Program's Facebook and Instagram data, we compared posts with and without human presence, revealing that those showcasing individuals achieved higher engagement. These posts led to more clicks, shares, and broader audience reach, outperforming traditional graphics-based content. This presentation will delve into how social media algorithms prioritize high-engagement content, making human-centric posts more visible. By understanding these dynamics, coastal science communicators can craft more impactful strategies to connect with their audiences, driving both awareness and action on critical environmental issues.