NPCC News: North Carolina Law Mandates Native Plants on Roadsides, and NC Celebrated Native Plant Week October 21-27

Native Plant Conservation Campaign News: North Carolina latest state to require native plants along roadsides, also celebrating third annual “Native Plant Week”

This summer the North Carolina legislature adopted legislation (SB 606) prioritizing native plant species in Department of Transportation roadside

plantings. The bill passed unanimously showing overwhelming bipartisan support.

In passing the law, the North Carolina legislature recognized the critical ecosystem services that native plants deliver to human societies and economies. The bill also reflects understanding that “[g]ardens and landscapes composed of native plants require little or no fertilizers, soil amendments or pesticides and use less water, and planting, cultivation and preservation of the state’s native plants provide a natural link to wild land while presenting beauty and benefit and instilling a greater appreciation for North Carolina’s natural heritage.”

This is not the first such initiative in the U.S. A 2017 New Jersey law requires that native plants be used to landscape roadways. The Federal Highway Administration and the U.S. Forest Service recently developed the Ecoregional Revegetation Application to guide the selection of locally adapted native plants for federal roadside revegetation.

For Native Plant Week, North Carolina First Lady Kristin Cooper planted a native plant garden on the Governor’s mansion grounds during the first Native Plants Week in 2017.

Whereas, North Carolina’s native plants are indigenous to our region, and have adapted and evolved over many years to flourish in the unique geography, hydrology, and microclimates of our state; and

Whereas, more than 3,900 native plant species make North Carolina one of the most diverse states for flora in the Southeast; 26 of these species are extremely rare and considered federally threatened or endangered; and

Whereas, native plants provide high-quality food and shelter for North Carolina’s native wildlife, including butterflies, bees, and other pollinators, and both game and nongame species; and

Whereas, native plants support more than 350 species of resident and migratory birds in North Carolina, many of which are species of concern and increasingly threatened by climate change; and

Whereas, the State of North Carolina gives homage to American Indians and their knowledge of native plants that have provided many generations with food, medicine, and other essentials; throughout our history, North Carolina has benefitted from the economic impact of native plant products, ranging from the blueberry industry to American ginseng exports; and

Whereas, gardens and landscapes composed of North Carolina's native plants require less water and little or no fertilizers, soil amendments, or pesticides; and

Whereas, the North Carolina office of the National Audubon Society as well as other organizations and businesses, including nurseries and retail-garden centers, work to expand the market for our native plants; and

Whereas, by cultivating North Carolina’s native plants, we honor our heritage, sustain the beauty and benefits of our natural resources, and preserve a natural link to wildland areas both past and present;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROY COOPER, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim October 21-27, 2019, as “NATIVE PLANTS WEEK” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.