Scientists seeking help locating invasive plants in the South

If you're finding exotic, invasive plants and want to let someone know about them, there's now a way. The University of Georgia, collaborating with the Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council, has set up a web-based mapping system to get a clearer picture of just how much of the regionhas been invaded. You can help them do it at www.se-eppc.org.

Anyone can view current sightings of dozens of exotic invasive plants (some hostile, some not) on maps at the Web page. The site covers the following states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.

If you want to help, you can register and learn how to identify an invasive plant, snap its picture and submit its location. The site uses Google Map to make it easy if you don't have a Global Positioning System. About 60 scouts have registered, so far, to make reports.

Click here for a University of Georgia press release that provides a good overview about the program.

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