The Sanibel Vegetation Committee
The Sanibel Vegetation Committee was formed in 1981. It was formed to protect and monitor the ecological vegetative resources on Sanibel. It was created to foster the community of Sanibel ensuring Sanibel retained its unique qualities as a sanctuary. The committee strives to prevent overdevelopment and oppose people behaving in ways that could hurt the natural ecosystem of the island.
One of the committee’s missions is to protect and plant native plants. This particular collection of plants is important to the habitat. They adapt to the weather conditions. They provide food and shelter for the wildlife. They need little or no supplemental irrigation. Also, the committee is in place to make sure that non-native, invasive plants are monitored and controlled. There are eight invasive, exotic plants prohibited on Sanibel!
The committee has pushed for Sanibel to have “Tree City” status. The “Tree City USA” program was founded in 1976 to encourage towns to develop their urban canopy. The effort is led by the Arbor Day Foundation which is celebrated every year by the Sanibel Vegetation Committee.
Invasive Plants Prohibited on Sanibel:
Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthefolius)
Melaleuca / Punk tree (Melaleuca quinquenervia)
Earleaf acacia (Acacia auriculiformis)
Java plum (Syzygium cumini)
Scaevola / Exotic inkberry (Scaevola taccada)
Lead tree (Leucaena leucocephala)
Mother in-Law’s tongue / Bowstring hemp /
Snake plant (Sansevieria hyacinthoides)
Air potato (Dioscorea bulbifera)
Download a list of plants native to Sanibel
