[PCA] New Jersey DOT Law and other pro native laws

Wed Nov 14 14:11:27 CST 2018

Native Plant Conservation Campaign News: Groundbreaking new law requires
native plants for roadside landscaping

May 23, 2017

Thanks to a trailblazing new law
<http://www.senatenj.com/index.php/wolfe/now-law-holzapfelwolfemcguckin-bill
-requiring-use-of-native-plants-for-roadside-planting/32763> , thousands of
miles of New Jersey roadsides have the potential to be transformed into
"Jersey-fresh gardens".

This month, the state government adopted a bill
<http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2016/Bills/S0500/227_I1.PDF>  that requires
the Department of Transportation and other authorities to only use native
plants to landscape roadways. The rule applies to any projects that break
ground in and after late October.

The law is a response to failed revegetation following Hurricane Sandy. The
non-native plants that were used required expensive care and eventually
died. Subsequently, the state reviewed the accumulating evidence that
restoration of native plant communities
<https://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/yard-garden/landscaping/native-plants-
for-sustainable-landscapes/> , particularly along waterways and coasts,
provides valuable ecosystem services
<http://plantsocieties.cnps.org/index.php/ecoss-main/overview> , including
pollution control, water conservation, wildlife habitat and storm
protection.

In addition, new research found that, where they existed, native coastal
wetlands prevented more than $600 million
<http://news.ucsc.edu/2016/10/coastal-wetlands.html>  in damage to
Northeastern communities during Sandy.

*	Get more information at Save Barnegat Bay
<http://www.savebarnegatbay.org/first-in-nation-native-plant-bill-becomes-la
w/> 
*	Learn more about Ecosystem Services on the NPCC Website
<http://plantsocieties.cnps.org/index.php/ecoss-main/overview> 
*	See and share the NPCC Ecosystem Services Photo Factsheet
<http://plantsocieties.cnps.org/images/EcoServePhotoTable4.16.pdf> !

 <https://www.ymlp.com/> Powered by YMLP.com  <https://www.ymlp.com/> 

Native Plant Conservation Campaign News: Update on pro-native plant laws and
ordinances. There are more than we thought!

Your community can adopt one too! 

October 19, 2018

On October 9, the Pennsylvania Township of West Norriton adopted the latest
local ordinance
<https://www.westnorritontwp.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/302?fileID=390>
in support of the use of native plants in all Township landscaping.

West Norriton joins several other municipalities (at least three in
Pennsylvania alone!) - and the state of New Jersey - in enacting
requirements to encourage use of locally adapted native plants in
development, parks and or landscaping. Most of these ordinances were adopted
in order to reduce water, pesticide and fertilizer use in local landscaping:

In 2017, the state of New Jersey adopted requirements that state
transportation agencies use only native plants in landscaping and other
plantings. The law was developed in order to reduce fertilizer and other
chemical use and pollution from roadside revegetation following Hurricane
Sandy.

Read a press release
<https://www.savebarnegatbay.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Press-Release.pd
f>  about the rationale behind and development of the law.

Read the sponsors statement
<https://www.senatenj.com/index.php/wolfe/now-law-holzapfelwolfemcguckin-bil
l-requiring-use-of-native-plants-for-roadside-planting/32763>  about the New
Jersey law

Read the text of the NJ law
<https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2016/Bills/PL17/41_.PDF> 

Since 2014, Palm Beach County , Florida has had a program
<http://discover.pbcgov.org/erm/Pages/Native-Canopy.aspx>  to encourage
restoration and expansion of Florida native plant canopy. The county also
provides technical assistance and free native plants to county residents.

In 2010, the City of Lake Worth, Florida adopted a landscaping code which
calls for native, drought-hardy plants that save money, add value and follow
other "Florida-friendly
<http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Sear
ch_String=&URL=0300-0399/0373/Sections/0373.185.html> " landscaping
practices.

Read a newspaper report on the code
<https://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/lake-worth-new-landscaping-code-calls-fo
r-native-drought-hardy-plants-that-save-money-add-value/llR55zj8lyEQjP3b9erQ
AN/> 

In 2007, the township of Lower Makefield, Pennsylvania adopted an ordinance
<http://pa.audubon.org/sites/g/files/amh821/f/static_pages/attachments/nativ
e-plant-ordinance-final-2017.pdf>  encouraging the use of native plants in
subdivisions and other land development.

This ordinance was later adopted by nearby Schuylkill Township, also in
Pennsylvania.

The Lower Makefield ordinance directs in part, that "[a]ll major
subdivisions and land development plans shall contain a Landscape Plan
approved before construction and as part of the subdivision/land development
approval process which shall address the conservation of the natural
landscape to enhance the development and to protect surrounding areas. All
required plants shall be Native Plants. The basic goal is to preserve the
native flora by mimicking the localized native plant community."

Read the Lower Makefield ordinance
<http://pa.audubon.org/sites/g/files/amh821/f/static_pages/attachments/nativ
e-plant-ordinance-final-2017.pdf> 

View a PowerPoint presentation (pdf) on the Lower Makefield native plant
ordinance
<https://plantsocieties.cnps.org/images/LowerMakefieldTownship-NativePlantOr
dinance.pdf>  and its development

Read the Schuylkill ordinance <https://ecode360.com/13603489> 

NOTE:  2015 National Seed Strategy
<https://plantsocieties.cnps.org/index.php/initiatives-main/u-s-plant-initia
tives#SeedStrategy>  initiated a similar initiative for federal land
management agencies. The U.S. became the first nation on earth to adopt a
policy to encourage the use of locally adapted, locally appropriate native
plant species in federal land management. See the Fact Sheet on the Seed
Strategy
<http://www.blm.gov/sites/blm.gov/files/NSS%20Half%20Sheet%20_%202016.pdf> 

Although such laws are still uncommon, clearly more communities are adopting
them. If you know of a pro-native plant ordinance in your state or local
area, please let the NPCC know.
<mailto:emilyr at plantsocieties.org?subject=native%20plant%20ordinance> 

Emily Brin Roberson, Ph.D.

Director

Native Plant Conservation Campaign 

 <mailto:emilyr at plantsocieties.org> emilyr at plantsocieties.org

 <http://www.plantsocieties.org/> www.plantsocieties.org 

The mission of the Native Plant Conservation Campaign is to promote the
conservation of native plants and their habitats through collaboration,
research, education, and advocacy.

"Without plants, there is no life. The functioning of the planet, and our
survival, depends upon plants."

Global Strategy for Plant Conservation
<https://www.cbd.int/gspc/default.shtml>  

Convention on Biological Diversity

<https://plantsocieties.cnps.org/index.php/action-main/sign-up-for-npcc-news
> Sign up for NPCC News!      <https://www.facebook.com/plantsocieties>
Like us on Facebook!
<https://plantsocieties.cnps.org/index.php/action-main/donate-to-campaign>
Donate - Save Native Plants!

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