Natural Resources Action Team Presentation: The Threat of Invasive Plants to Florida’s Ecosystem

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Invasive plants in Florida pose a massive threat to the state’s unique ecosystems by outcompeting native species, choking waterways, reducing biodiversity, increasing flood risks and costing billions annually to manage. Florida’s subtropical climate and status as a global trade hub position it as one of the most vulnerable states in the U.S. to biological invasions      

Contributing to this overall threat is the use of invasive plants in our landscaping.  Emily Bell, Communications Coordinator for the Florida Wildflower Foundation, will offer an introduction to invasive plants, review some of the most commonly used invasive plants in landscapes and discuss native alternatives.

Speaker

Emily Bell joined the Florida Wildflower Foundation in 2022 as its Communications Coordinator. Prior to that, she spent four years coordinating invasive species programs within UF IFAS Extension and for the Florida Invasive Species Partnership. She began her conservation career as an intern for The Nature Conservancy before taking positions with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and Hawaii Invasive Species Council. She has over a decade of experience with environmental outreach, planning and network building.