• Tourism brings nearly $800 million into our area’s economy each year, second only to the military which contributes an estimated 1.6 billion dollars yearly.

• Each resident of Northwest Florida saves $1500 per year in taxes due to the influx of tourist dollars into the area’s economy.

• Gulf Island National Seashore saw 3.5 million visitors in the year 2000.

• $473 million of cash flow into our economy can be attributed to direct spending by tourists.

• While it is difficult to pin down a distinct dollar figure on the “value” of our beaches, four of six people who live in or visit Pensacola say they are here for the beaches.

Given the importance of tourism to our economy, and the value the beaches hold for visitors and citizens, maintenance of our beaches and dunes is imperative. The cost of beach restoration is high. In developed areas where dune systems have been damaged by construction practices, restoration and replanting of dunes costs between $1 million and $1.5 million dollars per mile. In less developed areas, such as along our national seashore, where dune systems have been left intact, costs of restoration and beach refurbishement are much less. This is due to the fact the beaches and dunes recede and move in their natural form, shifting and moving as nature intended. In developed areas, buildings have interferred with the natural movement of the seashore, forcing humans to take efforts to protect their buildings and investments. Unplanned development on beaches will ultimately lead to expensive efforts to reclaim beaches which have naturally moved and eroded.

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The Nature of Perdido Key Beach Dune Habitat

The Perdido Key Beach Mouse

The Situation

Other Beach and Dune Dwellers

Got Habitat?

Predation