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CSI Programs
Climate Change
Ocean Change
Alternative Energy
Environmental Education
Urban Conservation
Predator Conservation
Primate Conservation
Ethics Initiative
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National
Lawn Conversion Program |
|
 Metropolitan
areas cover over 30% of the land area in the United States, and these areas
contain 80% of the country's population [3, 6]. Our society's fixation with
lawns causes considerable environmental problems including water depletion,
pesticide and herbicide pollution, habitat degradation, and threats to
biodiversity.
At
Conservation Science Institute, we view this problem as a tremendous
opportunity to restore ecosystems and alleviate economic dependencies of
at-risk populations while involving and educating the public where they
live. This initiative includes guidance for 'grass-roots' habitat
restoration and organic food production as well as the development of web
resources such as a North American plant database. We also plan to develop
national hands-on educational curricula for schools and scouting groups.
Before you begin converting your yard to a restored
natural habitat, you should find out what kinds of plants and habitats are
appropriate for your particular area. You can start by asking your local
librarian for help, or you can contact a local or regional native plant
society.
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Information on North
American Native plants can be found through the following links:
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North American Native Plant
Society - NANPS |
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Native Plant Information Network
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Native American
Seed - Gardening and Landscaping Resources |
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See also: 'Plant
a tree"
"Making a bat house" "A
Clean Environment"
"Schoolyard Wildlife" |
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References: |
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Berry, W.
2002. The Art of the Common Place: The Agrarian Essays of Wendell Berry.
Edited by Norman Wirzba. Washington, D.C.: Counterpoint, 330 p. |
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Casey, K.
(1996) 'Attracting frogs to your garden: Creating an ideal habitat for
native frogs in your own backyard'. Kimberley Publications, Upper Mt Gravatt,
Qld. 134 pp. |
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Cox, J. and
M. Cox. 1991. Landscaping with nature: Using nature's designs to plan your
yard. Rodale Press, Emmaus, PA. |
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DeStefano,
S. and R. M. DeGraaf. 2003.
Exploring the ecology of suburban wildlife. Frontiers in Ecology and
the Environment 2(1):95-101. |
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Diekelmann,
J., R. Schuster and R. Graef. 1982. Natural landscaping: Designing with
native plant communities. McGraw-Hill, New York, 276 p. |
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Gottehrer,
D.M. 1978. Natural landscaping. Dutton, New York, 182 p. |
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Heimlich,
R.E. and W.D. Anderson. 2001.
Development at the
urban fringe and beyond impacts on agriculture and rural land.
Washington, DC: US Department of Agriculture. |
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Smyser,
C.A. 1982. Nature's design: a practical guide to natural landscaping. Rodale
Press, Emmaus, PA, 390 p. |
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