Protect and restore dune ecosystems.
Conserve native plants, biodiversity, and wildlife habitat through careful, targeted removal of non-native and invasive plants where appropriate, continuing care, and native planting when needed.
OUR STORY
People who care.
A coast worth caring for.
Dune Savers is a community of volunteers caring for coastal dunes in St. Pete Beach and Treasure Island.
OUR MISSION
Protect. Restore.
Learn together.
Dune Savers brings people together to protect and restore coastal dune ecosystems through science-based stewardship, collaboration, and education — conserving native plants and wildlife habitat and supporting coastal resilience for future generations.
Careful removal of non-native and invasive plants makes up most of our hands-on work. We identify plants, select appropriate targets for each site, and work around native vegetation with care. We also plant native species where appropriate and provide continuing care.
Our trained leaders include Pinellas County Master Gardeners, Florida Native Plant Society members, and volunteers with advanced plant identification training. We draw on UF/IFAS Pinellas County Extension resources to help identify plants and guide careful dune stewardship. New volunteers learn alongside the team; no prior plant knowledge is needed.
Thoughtful work, grounded in place.
Non-native does not automatically mean invasive or require removal. Before removing a plant, we identify it and consider its role at the site while protecting surrounding native plants. Work must have the property owner’s or responsible public agency’s permission and follow applicable local and state requirements. Whether a permit or exemption applies depends on the activity, methods, and site; confirm this before work begins.
Our work includes volunteer groups in Treasure Island, St. Pete Beach, and the DCPOC Block M and N area. Each group has a local leader who can help you find the next workday.
Meet your volunteer group ↗WHAT GUIDES OUR WORK
Healthy Dunes. Thriving Wildlife.
Resilient Communities.
Support natural dune resilience.
Protect the processes that help dunes grow, respond to storms, and recover, while reducing avoidable damage from human activity.
Educate and inspire stewardship.
Help residents, visitors, and volunteers understand dune ecosystems and practice responsible coastal care.
Build participation and collaboration.
Build a dependable volunteer community and work with landowners, scientific advisers, public agencies, and community organizations to sustain conservation efforts.
Measure, learn, and share.
Our goal is to monitor conditions and project results, improve our methods, and share progress to build understanding and trust.
HOW WE PROTECT THE DUNES
Care for the plants.
Protect the whole dune.
Our dune stewardship is guided by four commitments:
- Identify before acting. Confirm the plants and follow your leader’s instructions.
- Protect native habitat. Work carefully around native plants, roots, and nesting wildlife.
- Keep disturbance low. Minimize foot traffic and protect the dune’s natural shape.
- Follow through. Follow applicable permissions and requirements, check results, and adapt the work when needed.
Non-native does not automatically mean invasive or require removal.
Read the volunteer field guide →