March Kampong Lecture

On Thursday, March 15th at 6:30 pm, Everglades Region Biologist, Dennis J. Giardina from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will speak about The Restoration of Rare and Extirpated Orchids in the Everglades and Big Cypress Ecoregion. 

This presentation will focus on an effort to experimentally increase the populations of two rare, native orchid species the cigar orchid (Cyrtopodium punctatum) and the dollar orchid (Prosthechea boothiana) at Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park in collaboration with Atlanta Botanical Garden and Florida International University. It will also feature a collaborative effort with Cuban botanists to experimentally re-introduce two of Fakahatchee Strand’s extirpated orchid species, Bulbophyllum pachyrachis and Epidendrum acunae and two of the Eastern Everglades extirpated orchid species, Brassia caudata and Macradenia lutescens.

For nearly 30 years Dennis J. Giardina’s career has focused on endangered species recovery and invasive species control. Giardina worked for the US Forest Service on the Caribbean and Apalachicola National Forests and for the US Fish and Wildlife Service at St. Marks, Florida Panther and 10,000 Islands National Wildlife Refuges. Giardina was the Manager of Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park and has been the Everglades Region Biologist for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission since 2007.

The event will begin at 6:30 pm with wine and light bites. The lecture will begin promptly at 7:00 pm. 

Admission is always complimentary for members and a $10 donation is suggested for guests. This is a great opportunity to become a Kampong member, if you are not already, and become part of the NTBG family.

Space is limited. Please RSVP at 305-442-7169, Holly ext. 100 or Arlene ext. 103.