Native Plant Conservation Campaign News: Native plant conservation successes offer hope  

September 8, 2020

 

Despite the seemingly ceaseless stress, anxiety and disruption that has characterized 2020, native plant champions throughout the U.S. continue to save and restore species, ecosystems and vital ecosystem services in their local communities. We offer two examples of stunning native plant conservation successes that we hope may provide hope and inspiration, or at least some good news.

 

 

In Hawaii, Ohia (Metrosideros polymorpha), is a keystone forest species is under attack from a new invasive fungal pathogen known as Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death.. Ohia is the foundation of Hawaii native forests and revered in Hawaiian culture. The fungus travels through the vascular system after being introduced through any wound in the tree. It is transmitted by insects and by hiking gear and vehicles.

 

The fungus has spread to four islands in the last 2 years. In order to prevent the complete loss of this tree NPCC Affiliate Laukahi (Hawaii Plant Conservation Network) secured a grant through the Hawaii Tourism Authority to make collections of seeds for reforestation once the disease is better understood eradicated.

 

These collections must be made statewide in order to prevent the loss of varieties unique to each island. Ohia varieties that are endemic to each island, and sometimes even to a certain volcano on an island.

 

Laukahi partnered with Lyon Arboretum at the University of Hawaii to procure seed banking services from several island seed banks in the Hawaiʻi Seed Bank Partnership. This spurred the emergence of many new seed banks. When the project started there were four island seed banks, now there are 10 in the Partnership. Through workshops given on four Islands, community scientists were trained to make collections, enter data in an online form and send the seeds to the appropriate bank.

 

2020 is the 3rd year of this project. To date, Laukahi has secured 1045 collections, made by more than 500 trained volunteers. Over 22 million seeds have been banked across the seed banks.  This was a tremendous statewide effort that exemplifies the power of people coming together to save species and ecosystems.

 

 

 

Meanwhile, in Florida, the Pelican Island Audubon Society in Florida has been working with NPCC affiliates the Florida Native Plant Society and the Florida Wildflower Foundation to provide free native plants and trees to help landowners  restore native plant communities in the Treasure Coast area.

 

Their "Trees for Life" and "Plants for Birds" programs have so far given away over 950 trees and 600 plants, as well as planted trees in county parks and city halls. The species include Southern Live Oak, Bald Cypress, Black-eyed Susan, Dune Sunflower and Wild Coffee. These projects twin goals are to provide food for birds and to replace lawns, which provide no wildlife habitat, and pump pollutants into local air and water, with natives.

 

The Society offers a short course and quiz on the chapter's website that people take before picking up plants and trees. The website also provides maps showing where natives have been planted. The projects were funded by grants from the National Audubon Society, Audubon Florida and the Indian River Lagoon Coalition, the local branch of the Environmental Protecection Agency’s National Estuary Program.

 

As the “Plants for Birds” website notes, native trees and other native plants “save energy, provide shade and wind breaks for our homes, cool our cities and neighborhoods, reduce the need for fertilizers, remove carbon dioxide and air pollutants from our air, retain topsoil, save water bills, provide for birds, butterflies, fish and people.” Southern Live Oak trees alone host more than 500 varieties of insects, essential food for birds. Native plants also purify water, absorb runoff and flood waters, beautify neighborhoods, help strengthen communities and, support property values.

 

 

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