Invasive Plant Symposium Set for Nov. 4 at Zoo Atlanta

Exotic pest plants are invading natural areas, parks, public and private lands, and even home landscapes at a phenomenal rate, choking out native plant species and causing significant long-term injury to the ecology and economy of Georgia. To learn more about these alien invaders, plan to attend a symposium sponsored by the Georgia Exotic Pest Plant Council on November 4, 2010 at Zoo Atlanta. Keynote speaker is Dr. Damon Waitt, senior Botanist at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin Texas, a Center having an international reputation in plant conservation and environmental sustainability. Other presenters at the day-long symposium will discuss the effects of invasive plants on real estate values, sustainable landscapes practices, environmental impacts of non-herbicidal plant control, and the risk associated with using invasive plants for bio-fuel production. The symposium is open to anyone interested in non-native invasive species management. Individuals involved in the management of forest resources, private and public lands, as well as Green Industry professionals and arborists are encouraged to attend. Continuing education units and pesticide credits will be available at the end of the program to qualified individuals. For a complete agenda, directions, and to register, see http://www.gaeppc.org/2010Meeting/index.html