HELP STOP THE SPREAD OF INVASIVE PLANTS!

Do you want to help slow down the spread of harmful invasive plant species and reduce their ecological and economic damage? The first step is to locate where invaders have arrived and get that information to those who can do something about it. That’s where citizen scientists come in. Citizen scientists are volunteers who receive expert training to identify and track important plant invaders in our area.

City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department and the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center are teaming up to offer this special workshop. Many of Austin’s parks and preserves are overrun with invasives. Monitoring their populations will help us know where eradication efforts are most needed.

Invaders of Texas is a unique program whereby volunteer "citizen scientists" are trained using a specially developed Invasive Species Early Detection and Reporting Kit. With this kit, volunteers can help detect invaders' arrival and dispersal in their own local areas. They can deliver that information into a national database and to those who can do something about it. The idea is simple. The more trained eyes watching for invasives, the better our chances of lessening or avoiding damage to our native landscapes.

LOCAL INVADERS OF TEXAS WORKSHOP

Host: City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department

When: Saturday, May 30, 2009, 9am-4pm

Where: Austin Nature and Science Center, Multi-Purpose Room, 301 Nature Center Drive, 78746

Cost: $15 Workshop Fee (Lunch Included)

Contact: May 22nd Deadline. To register contact Alice Nance,Alice.Nance@ci.austin.tx.us, 512-327-8181 x29. (Space is limited)

What to bring: Digital camera and GPS unit if available. http://www.texasinvasives.org/invaders/workshop_results.php