Stopping the Spread —
Combating Invasive Species in Florida

Water hyacinth in the St. Johns River. © Eric Blackmore

Invasive non-native species pose a continuous threat to conservation, second only to direct destruction of habitats in harming native wildlife. Nowhere in the continental United States is this threat more severe than in Florida.

Why Invasive Non-native Species Are a Problem
Invasive species damage the lands and waters that native plants and animals need to survive. They hurt economies and threaten human well-being.

What The Nature Conservancy Is Doing
Florida’s lands and waters need protection from the invasion of certain non-native plant and animal species that threaten to overpower nature’s balance.

The Conservancy is addressing this threat to native plants and animals statewide. The following projects exemplify our work across Florida:

• Central Florida Lygodium Strategy In central Florida the Conservancy has formed a partnership to stop the spread of Old World climbing fern.
• Florida Keys GreenSweep Invasive plants have been almost eliminated from conservation lands in the Florida Keys thanks in large part to the work of the Conservancy.
• Learn more about how The Nature Conservancy is preventing a python invasion in the Florida Keys!

What You Can Do

• Six easy ways to stop invasives.
• Donate Now Stop the spread of invasive species! With your support, we can prevent the spread of invasive species.

For More Information

• Learn about the Conservancy's efforts to address invasives worldwide.
• Identify common invasive plants in Florida.