Plant Conservation Resources
Southeastern Plant Conservation Alliance. The SE PCA is a partnership between many public and private conservation professionals working to bridge the gaps between local and national conservation efforts. Check out their Resources page for useful information related to plant conservation in the Southeastern U.S.
Center for Plant Conservation (CPC). The CPC is an international leader in effective plant conservation. Among other things, they have published a document that outlines the best practices for conserving plants in the wild. This includes everything from seed collection, propagation, reintroductions, and more. See their Best Practices here.
Recovering America's Wildlife Act (RAWA) is a bill that, if passed, would drastically increase the funding available for conservation, which would include a significant amount specifically set aside for plant conservation. Learn what you can do to help get this bill passed here.
The Botany Bill is another piece of legislation that would support plant conservation by promoting botanical research and native plant materials, among other things. Read more informaiton from the Center for Plant Conservation here, and learn how you can support it here.
Learn about our local flora...
The Tennessee Native Plant Society promotes native plants and plant communities in Tennessee and offers field trips and seminars throughout the year.
The Tennessee-Kentucky Plant Atlas is a database chalk full of useful plant information. One useful tool for plant identification is an advanced search filter that allows you to search for a plant based on many ecological and biological factors.
The North Carolina Botanical Garden's Flora of the Southeastern United States is a key for all plants of the Southeastern United States. You can download the keys for free on the website for the whole Southeastern U.S., individual states, or individual ecoregions.
The Tennessee Invasive Plant Council provides information on all things related to invasive plants.
Get involved in Tennessee...
The Tennessee Naturalist Program offers natural history courses to adults. There are currently 9 chapters in Tennessee. See information pertaining to each chapter here.
Wild Ones is a national organization that promotes the use of native plants in landscaping. There are multiple chapters in Tennessee that meet regularly, and some provide volunteer opportunities. There are chapters in Memphis, Nashville, Chattanooga, and Knoxville. See information here.