Natural Communities of Georgia Certificate in Native Plants

Leslie Edwards, lead author Natural Communities of Georgia

This course covers Georgia’s diverse natural communities and their plants, including our iconic oak-pine forests, precious mountain coves, prairies, high mountain summits, pitcher-plant bogs, granite outcrops and fire-dependent longleaf pine woodlands. We will discuss the environmental factors that influence the vegetation of natural communities, their ecology and how climate change affects their composition and distribution over time. Natural communities across the state – what makes them special and how to identify them – will be covered as part of this class. This class will be taught virtually over a period of several sessions.

Course Learning Objectives & Outline (topics covered will include):

• Ecoregions of Georgia
• Natural communities – what makes them unique
• Environmental factors that affect ecosystems
• Human impacts on natural systems
• Forested natural communities
• Open natural communities

Course Structure:

This course consists of four elements: three live, online programs and a set of self-paced review exercises.

• Part 1 – Online Class Session: Foundations of Natural Communities (2 hours) 2/6; 6 – 8 p.m.
• Part 2 – Online Class Session: Exploring Natural Communities (2 hours) 2/8; 6 – 8 p.m.
• Part 3 – Self-Paced Learning Exercises (1-2 hours of content)
• Part 4 – Online Class Session: Follow-up Q&A Session (1 hour) 2/15; 6 – 7 p.m.