Conservation of our watery and wetland resources begins with individual responsibility. Each person does make a difference by following a few very simple "rules".
| You can learn to identify which plants are desirable natives and which are invasive non-natives. |
| Never buy those plants which you suspect are non-native. |
| Inspect your yard, your woods, your garden, your school, your boat for invasive plants. |
| Never remove, collect, or transport Florida's aquatic or wetland plants. |
| Never empty the contents of your aquarium into a body of water. |
| Avoid chopping aquatic plants with boat propellers. |
| Always remove plant matter from boats before going to the next place. |
| Avoid disturbing the river bottom when paddling or tubing. |
| Always use designated entry areas to avoid increased bank erosion. |
| Never disturb wildlife. |
| Report invasive plant occurrences to your region's D.E.P. Regional Biologist. |
| You can download this PDF color brochure about preventing the spread of aquatic plants. |
| You can promote, plant, cultivate and grow the natives. |
To find organizations where you can volunteer to help Florida's environment, see
our
Citizen Involvement and Stewardship page.
This page was authored by Sarah Cervone, with assistance from Becca Hassell.
Photography and graphics are by Ann Murray, Sara Reinhart and Vic Ramey.
Vic Ramey is the editor.
DEP review by Jeff Schardt and Judy Ludlow.
This project is a collaboration of
the
Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants, University of Florida, and
the
Bureau of Invasive Plant Management, Florida Department of Environmental
Protection