Above illustration, "Tillandsia stricta," by Margaret Mee, © Smithsonian Institution, used with permission.			The Save Florida's Native Bromeliads project aims to conserve endangered species of bromeliads in south Florida. There are three principal goals of the project:
			Management of the pest weevil: Weevil populations need to be reduced to a level that no longer threatens the bromeliad populations. We are attempting to use classical biological control to reach this goal.
			Protection of the endangered bromeliads at risk from the weevil: Seeds of those species already under attack or likely to be attacked by the weevil have been collected and are being grown in greenhouses. Once the weevil problem has been resolved, these plants can be returned to the places where they were collected.
			Promotion of greater public understanding and recognition of Florida's native, endangered bromeliads: Florida's bromeliads play important roles in the state's unique ecosystems, as well as contributing to the recreational enjoyment and education of millions of park visitors each year. Their plight has been largely overlooked, and many people are unaware not only of the threats that the state's native bromeliads face, but of the permanent loss that would be suffered if the bromeliads are not conserved. Education on the immediate solution and the need for long-term conservation action is necessary to save our endangered bromeliads.