I suggest picking a specific topic that relates back to having healthy coastlines (keeping boat traffic speed down to avoid prop scarring in seagrass beds, keeping nutrient input and runoff pollution low to keep estuary systems healthy, keeping fishery catches in a proper balance to ensure a healthy system, etc) and write the paper on that topic, to the government official.
For some ideas on how to format something like this you might take a look at the 'get involved' or 'action centers' at places like worldwildlife.org and oceana.org, just to name two. Choose any official who you think could have an impact on the topic.. like our FL representatives and senators to Congress, or even state reps or the governor.
That's my suggestion at least. Narrow your topic, research why its important to healthy coastlines and what the main conservation problem is in that topic currently, and suggest ways the official could help us support a solution.
IE: Sea turtle deaths in oceans due to marine debris is pretty common, especially becuase they'll eat plastic bags and popped balloons that look like jellyfish (a favorite food) in the water. Here on the Space Coast we have some great sea turtle nesting grounds, and turtles depend on the sites. However.. very close to some of this important nesting habitat, we have lots of people releasing plenty of debris every week in the form of balloons to celebrate the departures of cruise ships at Port Canaveral. They're released, ascend to a high altitudes, pop and come back down to earth. Sure, not all of them come right back to the lagoon and space coast beaches, but plenty do. You could just go after marine debris as a slightly larger topic.
Obviously there's two sides to this situation.. there always is when we talk about conservation hurdles, and I dont want to incite a riot here on the forum!
Its just a suggestion for a local topic that would be easy to write about.
I hope that helps!
>Sarah
