Outreach and Education: Parker River/Essex Bay ACEC Project

An important goal of the outreach and education strategy is to go beyond communicating the environmental significance of ACEC resources to include messages about how the area is an important part of the region's economy, recreation, and culture. This approach was designed to target audiences beyond those having an environmental focus.

CZM designed and implemented a variety of outreach tools to engage and educate the public about the significance, issues, and resources of the ACEC. These tools include:

• Publication of a monthly column in local newspapers (PDF, 3.7M) discussing the environmental, economic, cultural, and recreational activities related to ACEC resources.
• Publication of a brochure (PDF, 715K) describing the ACEC, its resources, and partner contact information. The brochure was mailed to local landowners and made available at town hall offices, the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, and Crane Beach.
• Boat tours of the Plum Island Sound and Essex Bay estuaries, which provided a hands-on opportunity for the public to learn about the value of this region's natural resources.
• Presentations about the ACEC to a wide range of audiences including planning boards and conservation commissions, nonprofit organizations, and the general public.
• Formation of the Great Marsh Coalition which is a group of organizations and agencies who discuss ways of building a regional consciousness and identity for the Great Marsh. The Parker River/Essex Bay ACEC is part of this larger Great Marsh ecosystem.
• The public education component of this Special Area Management Model is ongoing and will continue into the foreseeable future with the collaboration of many groups throughout the region.