Candice Dalrymple of Habitat Highland Park shared with us the organization's initiative to earn National Wildlife Federation (NWF) certification and why becoming known as a wildlife habitat community is so important. Habitat Highland Park is sponsored by Go Green Highland Park and League of Women Voters of Highland Park/Highwood. To be known as NWF Community Habitat Certified means a significant percentage of residents are engaged in habitat building to support pollinators and wildlife. It is based on a point system. Points are awarded for the number of registered wildlife habitats in backyards, gardens, church or synagogue grounds, and natural areas. The habitats can be registered by individuals, groups, or schools. Certification of our community requires 400 points. 250 for habitats and 150 points for education, outreach, communication activity to build community support for pollinator environments. For instance, by speaking to us today, the organization has earned two points, she has been speaking to the schools and is most excited about the enthusiasm she received from the students, especially at the high school. Many of the environmental science students are Interact students. Candice said they currently have 90 points. The reason for habitats like this are for the pollinators. Most of us know about bees and butterflies, but many other insects are considered pollinators like mayflies, who are important to water life. Bats, and birds are also pollinators. Pollinators carry pollen from one plant to another, fertilizing plant health and ability to reproduce plants such as fruits, seeds and food crops, and wildlife environments. These pollinators are critical for biodiversity and healthy environments. Pollinators are decreasing in numbers. This is partly due to climate change, which has interrupted the reproduction cycle for so many of them, and partly from the increasing use of toxic pesticides. Songbird population has decreased 30% from the 1970 populations count; mayflies have had a 50% drop in population in just the past years. rusty-patched bumblebees have had an 87% decreased since 2000, and monarchs decreased 90% from just 22 years ago! Globally, there has been a 75% loss of insect biomass in 27 years. Half of the surveyed moth, butterfly and beetle species are in decline, with 1/3 of them threatened with extinction. Habitat HP will be making more appearances in the community by attending the farmers' market and Food Truck Thursdays. Candice is also working with the library and the city to hold a how-to demonstration (by the Stupey cabin) on how easy it is to create a habitat in your own yard. Adding plants and such to your garden also means there should be things you shouldn't do - like excessive watering, toxins like pesticides and fertilizer. Increasing development of turf consumes more land use than corn, wheat and fruit trees combined (according to NASA). Watering our lawns wastes as much as 7 billion gallons a day. Lawn sprinkler systems overwater by 50%. Lawn equipment increases air pollution, produces carbon and sound pollution. Candice recommends not mowing your lawn until after Mother's Day as a way of cutting back on the pollution. There are 4 criteria for achieving certification - participants self-certify. Water (a bird bath), food (seeds), safety (from chemicals) and a place to raise young trees, bushes, or gardens. Even an apartment or condo dweller can do their part - a bird bath or bowl of water and seeds in a birdfeeder are a great start. Candice suggests we each consider designating a portion of your yard as wildlife/pollinator habitat. Once that is completed, you can register your habitat with NWF, which tracks all HP registrations. And last but not least, help spread the word. |