 |
| Okefenokee NWR expansion is thanks to public input |
In late 2021, a fellow board member of the Georgia Native
Plant Society coined a phrase that resonated with me then and still does. As we
were writing our
3-year strategic plan, she wrote “GNPS grows people who love native plants.”
We recognized then that when you cultivate people’s appreciation of native
plants, a wonderful by-product is that they tend to become more interested and
more involved in conservation.
As we see more pressure to overturn conservation efforts, from
land preservation to pollution, growing a more sensitive population is in the
best interest of conservation. Each of us should take time to educate people
about native plants, even if it is just pointing out:
- That native plants exist (“Look at the fall color on that native red maple!”), and
- That they are beautiful (“This native trillium is so unique and I’m glad I am able to have it in my wooded area.”), and
- That they support local insects and birds (“I appreciate having that native black cherry because it provides food for beautiful butterflies – like over 400 of them. And it supports birds!”).
Share articles on your social media and photos of your
successes to help get people interested. Think about what people like (birds,
butterflies, fireflies, frogs, for example) and play to those interests.
- Fall color on native plants is key to great views in the fall.
- Pollinators depend on native plants, especially native bees but also honeybees.
- Birds thrive when native plants are more abundant to provide food to birds that don’t use feeders or have chicks to feed.
- Beautiful native flowers in your garden are an excellent way to demonstrate that native plants are accessible to gardens.
 |
| Monarch butterfly on goldenrod |
