A new short film showcases the growing link between the Dominican Republic’s deep national passion for baseball and the preservation of the island country’s coastal ecosystems.

Operation Restoration: Roots offers an intimate portrait of aspiring young baseball players who are getting some help from Seacology’s Play for the Mangroves program. Produced by 11th Hour Racing, a funder of several recent Seacology projects, Roots follows program coordinator Ismael Diaz-Tolentino as he works with kids in Las Calderas. His goal: helping them develop not only their athletic potential but also their appreciation for the incredible wetlands in their backyard.

Play for the Mangroves began as part of Seacology’s nationwide mangrove conservation initiative in the DR. This innovative program funds equipment, training, and sporting events for kids and teenagers, while engaging them youth in environmental education, coastal cleanups, mangrove plantings, wildlife observation, and other hands-on outdoor activities. Since its launch in 2021, we’ve worked with more than 60 boys’ baseball and girls’ volleyball teams across the country, and more than 5,000 young people have participated. After its success in the DR, we’ve brought the program to the Philippines and are looking to expand it to other countries.

Watch the video below, and explore 11th Hour Racing’s briefing on the program.