FL NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY - PINE ROCKLAND INITIATIVE - WEST PALM BEACH MOUNTS

Monthly Meeting

Featured Speaker: Celeste Boncompte, Field Technician at The Institute for Regional Conservation

Topic: Pine Rockland Initiative Program - Plants and Habitat Restoration Management

LOCATION:

IFAS / Mounts Botanical Garden Auditorium

531 N Military Trl, West Palm Beach, FL 33415

TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2024

7pm-9pm

Meetings are FREE to attend. Bring a friend!

JOIN FNPS:

VOLUNTEER: email [email protected] or call (561)285-7213

https://www.regionalconservation.org/ircs/aboutus/PRI.asp

The Pine Rockland Initiative was founded in 2005 with an emphasis on providing support to private owners of pine rocklands, especially for invasive plant control, with primary funding from the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). Over the years it has grown and evolved to become a multi-faceted program with many funders and collaborators including the FWS Coastal and Partners for Fish and Wildlife Programs, US DOD, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Miami-Dade County, Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, The Nature Conservancy, Miami Beach Garden Club, NABA, private donors, and many more. The goal of the program is to restore and manage pine rockland fragments on public and private lands throughout the range of pine rocklands, including providing the thought leadership needed to move beyond "business as usual" and save this unique part of our natural heritage. One way to do this it through "expanding the footprint" of pine rocklands, including the restoration of fire-excluded pine rockland patches, as well as the restoration of pine rocklands that have been destroyed.

Pine Rocklands comprise a globally imperiled ecosystem that exists only in southern Florida and parts of the Bahamas. In South Florida, they are home to many rare plant and animal species, including 11 federally listed animals and 16 federally listed plants. Dozens of state-listed plants and regionally rare plants designated by IRC are also present. A typical pine rockland is characterized by limestone outcroppings, sometimes covered with sand, a canopy of South Florida Slash Pine, and diverse understory and groundcover layers including temperate, tropical, and endemic plants. In South Florida, intact pine rocklands have all but disappeared outside of Everglades National Park (ENP) in Miami-Dade County and parts of National Key Deer Refuge in the Florida Keys. Outside of ENP in Miami-Dade County, small patches, representing perhaps 2% of the original extent of pine rocklands within Miami-Dade County's urban corridor, are all that remain. Threats to remnant pine rockland patches include destruction, invasive plants and animals, fire suppression, and dumping.
For more information on the history of pine rocklands and guidelines for planting a pine rockland in Miami-Dade County click here.

We want YOU to be a part of the Pine Rockland Initiative! If you are interested in volunteering at one of our public restoration events or interested in attending one of our workshops or training events, sign up for our monthly newsletters to get up to date information. If you know of a school group, garden club, or volunteer group that you think would be a good fit with this program, let us know! If you know of a business that would like to support our program financially by becoming a sponsor, contact us for our sponsorship information.

Email [email protected] or call 305-247-6547 and either Alex or Michelle will provide more information or how to get involved!

MEETING INFO:

Discover the wonders of native plants and their vital role in supporting local ecosystems, upon which life depends! We discuss various topics related to native plants, including their importance in providing native habitats, promoting biodiversity, and carving the pathway to sustainability.

Our goal is to preserve, conserve, and restore the native plants and native plant communities of Florida.

Whether you're a seasoned native expert, or just starting your journey, this meeting offers something for everyone.

Learn from experienced members of our community who will share valuable insights and tips for creating your own sustainable garden. Connect with fellow advocates, exchange ideas, ask questions, and gain inspiration.

Our popular native plant drawing follows the speaker program. This is a great way to learn from our knowledgeable members who share their expertise on specific native plants in hand, and it’s an opportunity to add hard-to-find plants to your own landscape.

Don't miss the chance to connect with like-minded individuals; this event is a fantastic opportunity for champions of nature to gather and share their love for native plants and gardening.

Also, we have snacks!

JOIN FNPS: https://www.fnps.org/support/membership

VOLUNTEER: email [email protected] or call (561)285-7213

Host or Publisher R. Kaufman