Charlotte Nature Museum is embarking on a new partnership with Parks and Recreation to manage and remove invasive exotic plants species. You may ask what an invasive exotic plant is — invasive exotic is the term used to describe a plant that is fast growing, super aggressive and is not native to the area.
“Green Invaders” will often take over areas of land, clog water waterways and rob native plants of the nutrients and resources to ensure their long-term survival. Damage to the environment from “green invaders” is costly from both a monetary and biodiversity perspective. Once a green invader moves into an area habitats are severely changed which affects its ability to support the native plants, birds, insects and animals that once lived there.
Monday Sept 28, Charlotte Nature Museum, with the help of Mecklenburg Parks and Recreation staff and enthusiastic adult and teen volunteers will lead a Green Invaders Service Learning Project to educate youngsters about invasive plants. Not only will youth learn how to identify different invasive exotics but teams will also participate in a weed roundup with an emphasis of clearing English Ivy off the grounds of Charlotte Nature Museum.
If you are unsure, as to whether you have “green invaders” on your land stop by Charlotte Nature Museum to learn more about which plants are invasives and which plants are suitable for your yard.
Naturally speaking,
Lisa Hoffman
Lisa Hoffman 12 Posts
Lisa Hoffman is the Director of Charlotte Nature Museum. Prior to joining Discovery Place in 2003, Lisa held positions as a science educator and mentor with District of Columbic Public Schools and worked for the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. She has conducted air quality research using the fern O. cinnamomea as an indicator species and also studied the presence of endophytic fungi in the roots of ferns. She is committed to environment-based education and the improvement of urban schools.
Lisa holds a MS degree in Biology and a BS degree in Botany from Howard University in Washington, DC.
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