Category: Natural Resources

UF/IFAS invites Floridians of all ages to join the Great Southeast Pollinator Census Aug. 21-22

by Lourdes Mederos
August 10, 2026

What if protecting pollinators were as easy as spending 15 minutes watching a patch of flowers? On Aug. 21-22, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extensions invites Floridians of all ages to join ... READ MORE

Category: Blog Community, Conservation, Events, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, SFYL Hot Topic, Wildlife
Tags: Beneficial Insects, Citizen Science, Great Southeast Pollinator Census, Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Master Gardener Volunteers, Pollinator, UF-IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension

UF Geomatics Team Members Recognized by Florida Surveying and Mapping Society

by Suzette Cook
August 10, 2026

Geomatics team members from the UF/IFAS School of Forest, Fisheries and Geomatics Sciences (SFFGS) were recognized for their efforts at the 71st Annual Florida Surveying & Mapping Society Conference held on July 31, 2026, in South Florida. SFFGS ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Natural Resources
Tags: 4-H & Youth, Career, Geomatics, Geomatics Extension, School Of Forest Fisheries And Geomatics Sciences, SFFGS

Sargassum Summer: Florida’s 2026 Record Sargassum Bloom Is More Than a Beach Problem

by Dana Saunders
August 10, 2026

Quick Facts What it is: Sargassum is a free-floating brown seaweed that drifts across the open ocean. Where it comes from: The Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt, a massive accumulation of floating algae stretching from West Africa to the Gulf ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Events, Invasive Species, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research,
Tags: Department Of Microbiology And Cell Science, Sargassum Bloom, UF-IFAS, University Of Florida, University Of Florida Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences

Native Plants Play Key Role in Wildlife Gardens

by Maria Quirico
August 9, 2026

Native plants are increasingly promoted as a cornerstone of wildlife-friendly gardening, but experts say gardeners do not need to limit themselves exclusively to native species to support pollinators and other wildlife. What are Native ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Lawn, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research, UF/IFAS Teaching, Wildlife
Tags: Ecological Value, Florida Native Plants, Florida-Friendly Plants, Low Maintenance, Non Invasive

Plant Science Student Spotlight: Afrifa Amoah-Mensah

by Eva Sailly
August 7, 2026

"My mom’s Jamaican, so I grew up drinking sorrel made with ginger and cinnamon from plants we grew in our backyard. Now I want to bring that same hibiscus into my own breeding projects and see what new varieties we can create. As a plant ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Teaching
Tags: Afrifa Amoah-Mensah, Biodiversity, Horticultural Sciences, Plant Breeding, Plant Science, Student, Teaching, UF/IFAS CALS

Visit Our Bug Bungalows

by Jackie Lebouitz
August 7, 2026

Bugs are an incredibly important part of the environment. Many pollinate plants, including fruits like berries and melons, help make the soil healthier by breaking down leaves, wood, and other organic matter, serve as food for wildlife like ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife, Work & Life
Tags: Art, Beneficial, Bug, Bungalow, Entomology, Fairy, Game, Good, House, Insects, Pgm_Chemicals, Pollinator

The Spread of the Python

by Bridget Gerovac
August 7, 2026

So the search begins... This week, I got the opportunity to participate in my very first python survey and potential removal! This started due to a potential sighting within a preserve so we were tasked with trying to confirm this identification ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Wildlife

Florida Land Steward Update, August 7, 2026

by Chris Demers
August 7, 2026

SUMMER-FALL 2026 ISSUE OF QUARTERLY FLORIDA LAND STEWARD NEWSLETTER NOW AVAILABLE In this issue: Need Equipment or Herbicides? Check out the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Private Lands Tool Cache, Hurricane Season is Here. ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Disaster Preparation, Forests, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Recreation, SFYL Hot Topic, Water, Wildlife
Tags: Drought, Florida Land Steward Program, Forest Landowner Academy, Forest Landowners, Hurricane Preparation, Hurricane Recovery, Hurricane Season, Landowner Assistance, Planted Pines, Ranchers, School Of Forest Fisheries And Geomatics Sciences, Tree Farm, Wild Turkey

Mental Health First Aid: Building the Skills to Support Someone in Need

by Angelika Keene
August 6, 2026

Sometimes, the moments that matter most begin with something small—a simple question, a compassionate conversation, or noticing when someone does not seem like themselves. While we may not always know what someone is going through, small moments ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Agriculture, Natural Resources, Professional Development, UF/IFAS Extension, Work & Life
Tags: 4-H, Agriculture, Brevard County, Family, Health, Mental Health, Mental Health First Aid, Youth

NATL, not to be overlooked

by Wes Wolfe
August 6, 2026

It can be missed sometimes, considering the attention the Austin Cary Forest receives, but the Natural Area Teaching Laboratory (NATL) is one of UF’s hidden treasures. Organizers of the recent Urban Forestry Summit in Gainesville made ... READ MORE

Category: Forests, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS
Tags: Austin Cary Forest, Florida Urban Forestry Council, Forest, Forestry, Invasive Species, NATL, Natural Area Teaching Laboratory, Prescribed Fires, School Of Forest Fisheries And Geomatics Sciences, SFFGS, Trees, Urban Forestry, Urban Forestry Extension, Urban Forestry Summit

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