Tag: Conservation

Brazilian pepper tree branches and berries

Don’t Let Your Landscape Become an Invasive Plant Factory

by Michelle Atkinson
August 5, 2026

You carefully select plants to create a beautiful landscape, provide wildlife habitat, and increase your home's curb appeal. But hidden among those desirable plants may be an uninvited guest, an invasive plant that quietly establishes itself, ... READ MORE

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease
Tags: Conservation, Florida Landscapes, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Invasive Plants, Landscape Maintenance, Natural Areas, Sustainable Landscaping, Watershed Protection, Wetlands

Exotics vs Native Plants in a Florida Landscape

by Mark Hostetler
August 3, 2026

In Florida and elsewhere, cities are a mixture of exotic and native species. These novel or “recombinant ecosystems” represent unique plant and animal communities that have been purposely or accidentally created by humans. The question posed ... READ MORE

Category: , Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Invasive Species, Lawn, Turf, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife
Tags: Conservation, Environmental Landscaping, Invasive Species, Native Plants, Wildlife
photo of a racoon sitting in grass

Wondering About Wildlife: A Series that Answers Questions About Wildlife Around You

by Katherine Clements
July 22, 2026

About the "Wondering About Wildlife?" blog series Enjoying and conserving wildlife, understanding and connecting with nature, and learning how to best co-exist with the wildlife that call Sarasota County home are part of our experience ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Natural Resources, Wildlife
Tags: Animals, Conservation, Nature, Pgm_EcoNR, Urban Wildlife, Wildlife, Wonderingaboutwildlife

Florida Land Steward Update, July 10, 2026

by Chris Demers
July 10, 2026

FLORIDA WILDLIFE CORRIDOR PAYMENT FOR ECOSYSTEM SERVICES PILOT PROGRAM NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS Apply by July 31, 2026! This program will provide financial compensation to eligible landowners to maintain their land undeveloped to provide ... READ MORE

Category: Conservation, Disaster Preparation, Forests, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Recreation, SFYL Hot Topic, Water, Wildlife
Tags: Conservation, Florida Land Steward Program, Forest Health, Forest Landowner Academy, Forest Stewardship, Hurricane Recovery, Hurricane Season, Invasive Species, Landowner Assistance, Payment For Ecosystem Services, Prescribed Fire, School Of Forest Fisheries And Geomatics Sciences, Tree Farm, Wild Turkey
Butterflies on a shrub.

Help Put St. Lucie County on the Pollinator Map

by Sara MacDonald
July 8, 2026

Join the Great Southeast Pollinator Census on August 21–22, 2026 Have you ever wondered how many bees, butterflies, flies, and other pollinators visit the flowers in your yard? This August, you can help answer that question while contributing ... READ MORE

Category: 4-H & Youth, Conservation, Events, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Natural Resources, Recreation, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife
Tags: Conservation, Florida Friendly Landscape, UF/IFAS Extension St. Lucie County
Close-up side view of a small fish with a bright yellow top and silvery body in a glass tank, showing a dark marking near the gill and translucent fins against a blurred background.

Reaching New Depths: IRREC Pioneers Culture of Japanese Masked Swallowtail Angelfish

by Joe McQueen
July 6, 2026

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Indian River Research and Education Center’s (IRREC) aquaculture laboratory, directed by Dr. Cortney Ohs, has received a rare species of fish to try to culture at ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, UF/IFAS Research, Wildlife
Tags: Aquaculture, Aquatics, Conservation, Ornamental Fish
Lake County MGVs

FIELD TRIP: Nehrling Gardens in Gotha, FL

by Maria Quirico
May 31, 2026

Fourteen Master Gardener Volunteers (and family) toured Nehrling Gardens in May 2026. Theresa Schretzmann-Myers (Board of Directors Vice President) was our excellent tour guide. Ms. Theresa fed us history, facts, stories, and anecdotes in ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Forests, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Home Management, Horticulture, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Pests & Disease, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Teaching, Water, Wildlife, Work & Life
Tags: Attract Wildlife, Botanical Garden, Conservation, FFL, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Native Plants, Sustainability
Three people on a white offshore fishing boat lean over the side while handling a large red snapper partly submerged in the ocean, with fishing rods mounted and open water stretching into the background.

Return ’Em Right Launches New Gear Distribution Model to help Expand Conservation Impact

by Jamie Groh
May 13, 2026

Return ‘Em Right (RER) teaches reef and deep-water anglers to recognize the symptoms of barotrauma and use release gear to increase their rate of survival.  Starting on May 13, 2026, eligible anglers that complete Return ‘Em Right’s free ... READ MORE

Category: Natural Resources, UF/IFAS, Water
Tags: Angler Training, Barotrauma, Best Fishing Practices, Conservation, Featured, Fish Release, Fish Survival, Fisheries Conservation, Fishing Education, Florida Sea Grant, Grouper, Gulf Of America, Marine Conservation, Ocean Conservation, Recreational Fishing, Reef Fishing, Release Gear, Responsible Angling, Return 'Em Right, Snapper, South Atlantic Fishing, Sustainable Fishing

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