Native Plant Conservation Campaign News:  Native plants are two of the Washington Post’s 10 steps to fight climate change!

 

Those of us who work to raise awareness about the value of native plants should celebrate!

 

Understanding of the benefits of natives in gardening and landscaping is spreading! In October, the Washington Post published Never mow another lawn! Ten steps you can take to combat global warming.  Two of the ten steps involved planting natives!:

 

9. Lawns are so 20th century

 

In the place of that square of grass, give your yard over to native plants. “Native plants require less water and maintenance than nonnative varieties and provide more food sources for birds as our warming planet changes their habitats,” said John Rowden, director of community conservation at National Audubon Society. “A great thing people can do for the environment is stop mowing — which produces carbon. Not only will you get more time back on the weekends but the birds will love it.”

 

10. Take it on the road

 

Advocate for your city or state to use native plants on public land. After Hurricane Sandy decimated the New Jersey coast in 2012, residents began to realize how important local flora are in combating flooding and erosion. Last year, the state passed a law requiring that native plants be used in landscaping along roadways (read about it in NPCC News). The move could save the state money and also help protect wildlife along the highways.