After learning more about Ocean restoration sites, my girlfriend and I went to Palos Verdes to visit one. I love how peaceful and vibrant the coastal ecosystem felt, especially seeing kelp forests starting to thrive again. We spent time walking along the trails, observing tide pools and reading about the local marine life being protected. It made me feel hopeful knowing that efforts like these are helping to reverse some of the damage humans have caused.

I recently learned more about sustainable seafood practices and guidelines that help protect aquatic environments and biodiversity. During a trip to Santa Barbara, I had the opportunity to enjoy fresh sea urchin, or uni, which is considered among the best in the world. Santa Barbara's uni is harvested sustainably by divers around the Channel Islands, ensuring minimal environmental impact and supporting local fisheries. Organizations like the California Sea Urchin Commission oversee the industry to maintain a balance between economic viability and ecological responsibility. By choosing uni from reputable sources that prioritize sustainability, I can enjoy this delicacy while aligning with environmental conservation efforts.

I recently learned more about regenerative agriculture, a farming approach that focuses on restoring soil health, increasing biodiversity, and improving ecosystem resilience while producing food sustainably. After watching the documentary, "Changing Paradigms | Regenerative Agriculture: a Solution to our Global Crisis? | Full Documentary," I better understood the aspects surrounding regenerative farming. This documentary follows Charles Massy, an Australian man born into his family farming industry raising sheep. While he acknowledges his families legacy in participating in negative environmental habits, he attempts to use regenerative farming. He shows how land, whose soil dried up due to past unsustainable agricultural practices, becomes restored by regenerative farming as seen by the regrowth of native grasses. His livestock help revitalize the land by naturally fertilizing the soil, breaking up compacted ground with their hooves, and stimulating plant growth through managed grazing cycles, which helps native plants spread. I also learned that the majority of America's lamb is imported from Australia so as a testimony to my learning I made rengeratively raised lamb chops from Australia and eggs for breakfast.

I decided to join this ecochallenge because I want to do my part to save what's left of the environment. Through my experiences this quarter, I have learned about the importance of environmental education, especially for kids. All of my research on this topic reminds me of just how important it is to uplift the youth and how much of an impact we can have on children's lives. I hope to continue making an impact through my future career as a pediatrician!