Chris Best, State Botanist with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, will talk about grass identification and the ecology and conservation of native grasslands and savannas. Native grasslands and savannas are biodiverse ecological communities that are adapted to and influenced by wildfires. Native grasslands are now the most reduced ecological communities in Texas and North America. Most native grasslands have been converted to cropland. In addition, intensive livestock grazing and reduced fire frequency have stimulated the conversion of many grasslands and savannas to shrublands. Finally, introduced Old World grasses have replaced native plants, particularly in south Texas. Efforts to manage and restore native grasslands and savannas is a high conservation priority in Texas. This FREE online event can be accessed here without advanced registration. Please note that the business portion of the chapter meeting begins at 6:00 p.m. and the presentation begins at 6:30 p.m.