Stewardship Travel for Good Program Receives 2021 Sanctuary Sea Star Award
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The Highway 1 Discovery Route’s “Stewardship Travel for Good Program” has received the 2021 Sanctuary Sea Star award in the Business & Tourism category. Presented by the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, the award recognizes the innovative program’s effort to “help visitors understand the value of the marine environment and increases visitor participation in stewardship-based activities that help preserve and protect the sanctuary.” The Stewardship Travel for Good program previously received a 2016 Visit California Poppy Award for “Commitment to Community as well as the 2016 SLO CAL Tourism Exchange Environmental Award.”
The Stewardship Travel for Good program was created to enrich a visitor’s connection with and commitment to the diverse coastal ecosystems found adjacent to the Highway 1 improvement projects that are critical to preserving the habitat for the astounding number of species that breed locally or migrate through the Central California Coast. In addition to scheduled clean-up days, visitors can collect Clean-up Kits daily from the Central Coast Aquarium, visitor centers, and several lodging properties throughout the region.
The Clean-up Kit features a collection bag, gloves, and a valuable Marine Debris Checklist. The checklists are used by local conservation professionals to determine levels and trends of specific debris in order to further protect vulnerable wildlife, from migrating monarch butterflies and humpback whales to nesting least terns and calving California sea lions.
The Stewardship Travel for Good Program offers attractions along the Highway 1 Discovery Route, a National Scenic Byway. This unique bioregion spans 50 miles of protected coastline, 13 state parks, and numerous wildlife preserves, and is part of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, a 6,094-square–mile stretch of ocean that is often called the “Serengeti of the Sea.”
The 2021 Sanctuary Sea Star award recognizes the commitment of Stewardship Travel for Good director Katie Sturtevant, her team, as well as each local region. This accolade is a testament to the thousands of participants who have volunteered to collect trash, restore habitat, and participate in other efforts to keep the Central California Coast environment pristine.
Visit the Stewardship Travel for Good website to learn how you can help.
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