I received a request from Bryan Lenz this week about native plant ordinances that include municipalities in their native landscaping guidelines. So often, communities will pass an ordinance allowing native landscaping or even requiring it for subdivisions and land development, but do not take the extra step to include themselves in the ordinance. Very often they specifically exclude the community and public lands.
Bryan is revising Bird City‘s criteria and he’s looking for some examples of ordinances where the municipality follows landscaping practices that promote not only sustainability, but also wildlife. Feel free to contact Bryan directly.
I have already suggested to Bryan that he consider the federal guidelines on the use of native landscaping.
Federal Guidelines
On February 3, 1999, President Clinton signed Executive Order 13112 which calls on Executive Branch agencies to work to prevent and control the introduction and spread of invasive species and to “provide for restoration of native species and habitat conditions in ecosystems that have been invaded….”
On June 20, 2014 President Obama signed a Memorandum for Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies Creating a Federal Strategy to Promote the Health of Honey Bees and Other Pollinators which included “developing affordable seed mixes, including native pollinator-friendly plants…for restoration and reclamation projects….” and pollinator-friendly best management practices for federal lands.
On March 4, 2015 the 114th Congress passed H.R. 1284 Saving America’s Pollinators Act of 2015.
Bird City USA
Bird Cities (and Towns) are located in Wisconsin, Indiana and Minnesota and they are currently working with folks hoping to start programs in Iowa and Texas. Pennsylvania has a similar Bird Town Pennsylvania program as well. keep your fingers crossed! as Bryan progresses toward making Bird City a national program.
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