HARC, GBEP Release Invasive Plant Field Guide for Galveston Bay Area.HOUSTON -- A new guide, The Quiet Invasion: A Guide to Invasive Plants of the Galveston Bay Area The Galveston Bay Area is a loosely defined region in the southeast portion of Greater Houston. It is roughly defined by the western banks of Galveston Bay and extends inland roughly 10 miles (16 km) or so. , was released today by the Galveston Bay Estuary Program and the Houston Advanced Research Center The Houston Advanced Research Center, commonly referred to as HARC, is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization based in The Woodlands, Texas dedicated to improving human and ecosystem well-being through the application of sustainability science and principles of sustainable . This handy guide will help gardeners, land managers, and landscape architects identify invasive plants that can be harmful to local habitats. The guide suggests native species alternatives which are better choices for planting because they can help provide food and habitat for wildlife, require less water and are easy to maintain. Species identified in the guide are plants from other parts of the world that, when planted in the Houston-Galveston region, survive, reproduce and crowd out native plants. They eventually harm local habitats and the wildlife that depend on them. Examples of invasive plants include: Chinese tallow tallow, solid fat extracted from the tissues and fatty deposits of animals, especially from suet (the fat of cattle and sheep). Pure tallow is white, odorless and tasteless; it consists chiefly of triglycerides of stearic, palmitic, and oleic acids. , deep-rooted sedge sedge, common name for members of the Cyperaceae, a family of grasslike and rushlike herbs found in all parts of the world, especially in marshes of subarctic and temperate zones. , and water hyacinth. On an annual basis, invasive plants and animals Plants and Animals are a Canadian indie-rock band from Montreal, comprised of guitarist-vocalists Warren Spicer and Nic Basque, and drummer-vocalist Matthew Woodley.[1] They are signed to Secret City Records. cost this country nearly $137 billion in economic losses and control costs. Color photos help the readers in Brazoria, Chambers, Galveston, Harris and Liberty counties identify each of the 20 invasive plant species described in the printed guide. An additional 20 species are presented on the Web version at -- www.galvbayinvasives.org. Information on each species' geographic distribution, pathway of introduction, physical characteristics, preferred habitat, reproduction and growth patterns is included. To request a free hard copy, contact Jeff DallaRosa at jdallaro@tceq.state.tx.us or (281) 486-1242 or Lisa Gonzalez at lgonzalez@harc.edu or (281) 364-6044. The Galveston Bay Estuary Program, a program of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality The Texas Commission for Environmental Quality is the environmental agency for the U.S. state of Texas. External links
Founded in 1982, HARC is a nonprofit organization Nonprofit Organization An association that is given tax-free status. Donations to a non-profit organization are often tax deductible as well. Notes: Examples of non-profit organizations are charities, hospitals and schools. based in The Woodlands, Texas, dedicated to improving human and ecosystem well-being through the application of sustainability science and principles of sustainable development. HARC is a leader in moving knowledge to action to improve human well-being and protect the environment. Major program themes include natural ecosystems, water resources, air and climate, environmental health, clean energy and the built environment. For more information, visit www.harc.edu. |
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