Activities to Engage In: Exploring Suggestions for Fun and Entertainment
In an innovative approach to wildlife conservation, academic and author Douglas Tallamy proposes the concept of "homegrown national parks." This idea involves transforming private urban and suburban landscapes into a vast network of native plant habitats that serve as critical wildlife corridors, countering the isolation and small size of traditional protected parks and wildlands.
The core concept revolves around replacing non-native, decorative plants and conventional turf lawns with native species, which have evolved locally and support local wildlife. These native plants function as keystone species, providing food sources like caterpillars that many birds and animals rely on.
By restoring habitats at scale through private and public lands, such as residential yards, parks, and community spaces, the collective efforts create a large-scale wildlife corridor and refuge. This initiative is known as "rewilding lawns," which aims to reduce lawn areas that offer minimal ecological value and increase native plant cover to foster diverse ecosystems.
The movement encourages grassroots participation from individuals nationwide to contribute to building this "park" one yard at a time, empowering both homeowners and land managers. The focus is on the ecological importance of interconnected habitats to allow safe movement and genetic exchange between wildlife populations in fragmented urban and suburban landscapes.
Creating these native plant corridors provides support for biodiversity, in particular, insects and animals, counteracting declines caused by habitat loss and the widespread use of non-native landscaping. Connected habitats increase wildlife survival and resilience, while also contributing to environmental restoration by promoting healthier soil, reducing the need for watering, pesticides, and fertilizers, and enhancing carbon sequestration.
Moreover, native gardens can be visually appealing and require less maintenance, offering aesthetic value and providing ecosystem services like pollination and pest control. The approach aims to raise public awareness about the importance of native ecosystems and empower individuals to participate actively in conservation through their everyday actions.
In this movement, the shift from non-native decorative plants to native species in private landscapes allows for the growth of environmental-science-focused habitats that cater to various wildlife, especially in urban and suburban areas. By embracing the "rewilding lawns" initiative, individuals can contribute to the arts and lifestyle of creating visually appealing and low-maintenance native gardens, while expanding the network of native plant corridors and promoting biodiversity in science-driven initiatives.
