The Great Invader Raider Rally

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My son and I forewent an opportunity to sleep in late this morning so we could get up and attend an event in our town called the Great Invader Raider Rally. I have to say, the name of the event sounds much more fun than what the event actually is. As many of you across the country, and even across the world, know is that often our native ecosystems can be overrun by exotic and non-native plant and tree species. In many places, these non-native plants and trees often have no natural predators to control or eliminate their growth. As a result, complete ecosystems have been destroyed by non-native species. In my community, two particular non-native plants have voraciously attacked our native ecosystem: the air potato vine and coral ardesia plants. For years, the event my son and I attended was called the Great Air Potato Roundup, and literally thousands of volunteers would scurry through the woods and forests of our community picking tons and tons of air potatoes. The event was effective in controlling the population of air potatoes, but not successful in eliminating it. Until a few years ago. Scientists at the University of Florida have been studying and testing a beetle that eats only air potato vines. Before releasing them into the local environment, they wanted to make sure the beetles wouldn't damage native plants. After determining they were safe to release, a couple of years ago the beetles were released throughout Florida, and they have been so effective in controlling and eliminating air potatoes, that they are no longer a problem in most communities. That's why last year we had to change the name of the event from the Great Air Potato Roundup to the Great Invader Raider Rally! This year, the focus is on eliminating coral ardesia plants. These plants, while very beautiful, can completely take over a native ecosystem in a matter of a couple of years. Their growth on a forest floor can be so thick it strangles any tree saplings from being able to grow. The red berries on the plants have a 99% propagation rate, meaning 99 out of every 100 berries will grow into new plants. So today, my son and I spent a couple of hours cutting, picking and pulling coral ardesia plants from a local 100-acre nature park. I have to admit, it's hard work, but it is paying off, as I could clearly tell there was less plants in the park this year as there were the previous two years. That means are efforts are succeeding! Have you ever participated in an event like this in your community?