A Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Success Story: The Tale of Atala & Coontie

The Anthropocene era has caused the loss of numerous plant and animal species. However, there's a positive story of two local species, the coontie plant (Zamia integrifolia) and the Atala butterfly (Eumaeus atala), that have rebounded from the brink of extinction thanks to improved human behavior and practices.

The coontie plant, historically utilized by Florida's indigenous people, was driven close to extinction due to European settlers' commercial exploitation. It has now rebounded as a staple in Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ practices. Similarly, the Atala butterfly, once imperiled, has benefitted from conservation efforts alongside the coontie's resurgence. This success story underscores the potential for saving other endangered species through culturally informed landscaping choices, transforming landscapes into biodiverse habitats and preserving interconnected ecosystems.

Instructor: Forest Hecker, Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Specialist, Sarasota County.

Register early through ufsarasotaext.eventbrite.com to reserve your spot and receive notice of any changes.

For questions or further information, please call 941-861-5000 or email [email protected]. If you require special accommodations to attend one of our events, please contact us in advance at 941-861-5000 or [email protected].

NOTE: Classes and events may be canceled at any time due to low registration or other circumstances, with full refunds issued for paid events. Similar classes or events often are offered on future dates.

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Type: Take a Class

Topic: Nature, Gardening

Organization name: UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County

Host or Publisher UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County