Did you know that trees can play a vital role in some types of grassland communities? Approximately 200 different types of grasslands have been identified in the Southeast and several of those grassland communities include trees. This fact often surprises people because of our common view that grasslands are completely devoid of trees. In this photo essay we are celebrating some of the grassland communities that include trees, as well as some of the plants and animals that make up those communities.

Marcello De Vitis joined SGI in 2021 as our first Director of the Seeds of Success - Southeast program. Marcello brings with him extensive experience working in some of the leading seed banks and seed programs in the world. His educational background includes a PhD in Ecology & Management of Biological Resources from Tuscia University in Viterbo, Italy, an M.S. in Ecological Sciences, and a B.S. in Biological Sciences, both from Sapienza University in Rome. Recently we sat down with Marcello to learn a little more about him and his role at SGI.

On Tuesday March 15, 2022, several members of the SGI staff visited our partners at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia to plan for future work together on opportunities in land conservation and restoration, native plant research, and community building through volunteerism and ecological stewardship. The visit was a mix of strategic discussions, pleasant walks through the outdoors, and learning about research and restoration projects led by the Garden’s team.

Education and outreach, volunteer activities, restoration work, networking, and much more are some of the many activities that SGI has been involved with this month. Read this newsletter to hear about all our exciting news and announcements, find out about our upcoming events in April, be reminded of our recent blog articles, and find out the hot topics being discussed in our Facebook group.