MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — The Surfrider Foundation’s Miami chapter is rolling up its sleeves to restore the city’s coastal dunes — pulling weeds, planting native vegetation and protecting the shoreline from erosion.

Chapter chair Mike Gibaldi said the group has been focused on removing scaevola, an invasive shrub native to Hawaii that has crowded out Florida’s native beach plants for years.

“It takes over the other plants and you end up with a monoculture,” Gibaldi said. “The dune is not as diverse and healthy.”

The Surfrider Foundation’s work was highlighted in its 2025 State of the Beach Report, which recognized Miami for partnering with the organization to improve dune health and resilience.

According to the report, Miami’s beaches drew 28 million visitors last year and generated $22 billion for the local economy.

Gibaldi said restoring the dunes isn’t just about preserving nature — it’s about protecting the community.

“When you have a healthy dune, whether you have a storm surge or hurricanes, it’s holding the beach and protecting upland property from storm surge,” he said.

Since 2006, the group has restored more than 10 acres of coastal dunes and planted over 3,000 native plants, including sea oats and beach creeper.

On Mid-Beach near 35th Street, Gibaldi pointed out the group’s progress.

“We planted natives,” he said. “We didn’t plant the sea grapes that were here, but this is beach creeper — we planted only a couple of these, and it’s taken off. It’s done very well.”

Gibaldi said the ongoing effort is helping Miami Beach’s dunes return to what a “good dune” should look like — healthy, diverse and able to withstand whatever nature brings.

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