Backyard Gardeners Can Reverse Decline in Insects and Birds
“It’s an urgent situation: wildlife populations are in decline because the native plants they depend on are fast disappearing,” said Doug Tallamy, author of Nature's Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation That Starts in Your Yard.
Tallamy, a professor in the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware, is addressing this ecological challenge with a call to action for backyard gardeners to take “simple steps that each of us can—and must—take to reverse declining biodiversity.”
The loss of billions of birds in North America and the decline in insects throughout the world are what Tallamy calls “a bleak reality check about how ineffective our current landscape designs have been at sustaining the plants and animals that sustain us.”
The loss of birds and insects is not inevitable, said Tallamy, who will discuss the steps landscapers and gardeners can take at a presentation hosted by Essex County Greenbelt on April 28 from 7 to 8:30 pm (click to register for this free event).
“We, ourselves, are nature’s best hope,” he said. His goal is 20 million acres of native plantings in the U.S. This represents approximately one-half of the green lawns of privately-owned properties.
The discussion is sponsored by Gulf of Maine Institute, West Newbury Open Space Committee, West Newbury Garden Club, and West Newbury Wild & Native.
Nature’s Best Hope, a New York Times best seller, shows how homeowners can turn their yards into conservation corridors that provide wildlife habitats.
“It’s practical, effective, and easy—you will walk away with specific suggestions you can incorporate into your own yard,” said Tallamy, “It is the blueprint you need. By acting now, you can help preserve our precious wildlife—and the planet—for future generations.”
Tallamy has authored 103 research publications and has taught insect related courses for 40 years.
His book Bringing Nature Home: How Native Plants Sustain Wildlife in Our Gardens was published by Timber Press in 2007 and was awarded the 2008 Silver Medal by the Garden Writers' Association.