use of native plants in federal landscaping · 2005-08-31 · epa why native plants??executive...

EPA

Use of Native Plants in Federal Landscaping

EPA

WHY NATIVE PLANTS ??! Executive Order 13112 to use native species and

control invasives

! More than 200 plants have become extinct since the early 1800s

! Nearly 5,000 native species are "at risk"

! One in ten plants faces extinction

! Only 526 plants have been offered protection under the Endangered Species Act

EPA

WHY NATIVE PLANTS ??! Ecological values

! Essential for biological diversity and ecosystem integrity

! Economic values (medicinals, herbals, landscaping, food)

! Create self-sustaining ecosystems for restoration and/or revegetation

EPA

MANAGING INVASIVE ALIENS

! Executive Order (to manage for invasives)

! 400 serious invaders out of 4,000 alien species

! Not just farms and lawns

! U.S. is losing 6,000 acres per day

! Over 100 million acres infested by aliens

! Natural areas, parks, forests, and right-of-ways

EPA

MANAGING INVASIVE ALIENS

!Invasive aliens - characteristics:

� Rapid growth and maturity� Prolific seed production� Highly successful seed dispersal, germination � Rampant vegetation spread� Ability to out-compete native species� High cost to remove or control� Love that bare soil

EPA

Web Sites for Native Plants

! www.nps.gov/plants/This is the Plant Conservation Alliance (PCA) home page - excellent information and links to many useful sites.

! www.ert.orgPhyto and restoration projects and contacts for assistance with revegetationwith native plants.

! www.barc.usda.govProvides information from the Plant Science Institute and the Weed Science Laboratory.

! http://plants.usda.gov/index.htmlThe Plants database and noxious weed information.

EPA

Web Sites for Native Plants (continued)

! www.mobot.org/cpc (/pubs.html has list of publications)The Center for Plant Conservation with good links.

! www.audubonintl.orgInformation on wildlife habitat and restoration and landscaping with native plants.

! www.epa.gov/greenacres/Information on landscaping with native plants and wildones � handbook.

! www.for-wild.orgNatural Landscaper, Ltd. a non profit with good links.

! www.nativeplants.for.uidaho.eduInformation on growing and plants of north America.

EPA

Web Sites for Native Plants (continued)

! www.virginia/gov/cmsportal! Identifies invasive alien plant species.

! www.rce.rutgers.edu/weeds/default.aspProvides pictures and mangement strategies for aliens.

! www.ncfes.umn.edu/Provides directories for plant suppliers/forest conservation.

! www.planthealthcare.com/magazineGives access to science articles in magazine format.

! www.ecoseeds.com/nature.htmlProvides links to other sites and provides classroom training on native plants.

EPA

EPA ERT Resources Available

! Directory of native plant wholesellers by state (now on LadyBird Johnson web site)

! Directory of ecosystem restoration experts(Society for Ecosystem Restoration web site)

! Native Plant and Biosolids white papers available from EPA ERT

EPA

EPA ERT Resources Available(continued)

! ERT videos on phytoremediation and native plants (order from www.ert.org)

! Site-specific technical support - call EPA ERT! Harry Compton, (732) 321-6751 ! George Prince, (732) 31-6649! Scott Fredericks, (703) 603-8771