Welcome
Module 1 ~ Silent Invaders
Defines native versus non-native plants and why some are considered to be invasive.
Module 2 ~ A Fish Tale
Illustrates the ecological role native plants provide in aquatic ecosystems and the problems/impacts caused by invasive, non-native plants;
Module 3 ~ Why Manage Invasive Plants?
Explains why we need to manage invasive plants and the challenges plant managers face on a daily basis.
Module 4 ~ Viva la Difference!
Provides an introduction to the biological productivity of Florida lakes (aka trophic state), and the characteristics that make them so unique – especially the abundance of aquatic plants.
The Florida Invasive Plant Education Initiative was created to provide educators with the information and resources they need to teach about the benefits of Florida’s native plants and the harmful impacts that some invasive, non-native plants are having on our natural areas and neighborhoods. Along the way, we are striving to inspire learners of all ages to spend more time looking at plants and learning about their importance to our state’s ecological well-being.
Our ultimate goal is for today’s youth to draw on this knowledge as they mature into responsible and committed environmental stewards for Florida, the “land of flowers.”
To accomplish this, we've developed four core modules (see sidebar on right), with related lessons and hands-on activities. We hope you find these lessons and accompanying materials useful in the classroom.
Lastly, we encourage you to use the education web pages and associated links as a pathway to our main website and companion Plant Management Guide. We think you'll agree; they both provide a wealth of information about Florida’s freshwater environments including – but not limited to – plant management, water management, wildlife, ecology, etc.
After reviewing these materials, we hope you'll share your ideas and/or comments and let us know what we can do to make your job easier as you teach this very important subject.
Thank you!
CAIP Education Outreach Team
