Maricopa County Parks and Recreation: Discovery Station – Invasive Plants Awareness

Drop by to talk with Ranger Olivia and learn about local and regional efforts to manage the spread of non-native invader plants as a proactive step towards ecological restoration and fire risk reduction. Stop by an information table to learn about the Desert Defenders program, a powerful collaboration uniting citizen scientists, the Central Arizona Conservation Alliance, the Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department, and agencies such as the White Tank Mountains Conservancy, McDowell Mountain Conservancy, and others. The goal of this initiative is to reduce the presence of invasive species such as stinknet (globe chamomile), Sahara mustard, buffelgrass, salt cedar and more. These invaders provide fuel for wildfires, outcompete native plants that wildlife need to thrive, and alter ecosystem health. Find out about the County Parks natural resources plan to manage these threats and how you can volunteer at restorative events held in our Parks. Meeting Location: Nature Center No registration required, drop by anytime between 2pm-4pm!