Top 10 Reasons We Want Native Plants and Wildlife In Our Backyards

1. No chemicals required! Each year, several hundred thousand pounds of pesticides are applied in San Diego County. Many of these contain toxic chemicals that taint our water supplies, contribute to poor air quality, and can cause serious health problems for humans and pets.


2. Birds and bats are nature's best pest controls. They are attracted by the "good"insects that are drawn to your native, flowering plants, but they also eat up more than their weight each day in mosquitoes, flies, gnats, and other pesky bugs.


3. Natives are drought-resistant and require less water. Your plants will survive a drought (and better yet, look good doing it) while your neighbor's non-natives will wither and die. Better yet, their extensive root systems capture rainfall that recharges our limited water supplies.


4. Can be a money maker! An attractive, well-maintained native landscape may increase the value of your property up to 10%. In several water districts, monetary incentives are also provided for California-friendly landscape conversion.


5. Natives can displace costly invasives. Economic losses and control efforts related to invasive plant eradication cost the U.S. economy hundreds of billions of dollars each year. Here in San Diego County, our own local invasive plants are notorious for clogging waterways, displacing native plants and wildlife, and for being highly flammable.


6. Native plants support pollinators (aka birds, bats, and butterflies). Without pollination, we would not have many of the fruits and veggies that we eat every day.


7. Erosion control. Native plants have long root systems that stabilize our yards and provide erosion control.


8. Plants clean our air and water. Trees and larger shrubs absorb carbon and other nutrients that contribute to the urban heat-island effect, and all vegetation plays an important role in filtering pollutants and nutrients from urban run-off.


9. Wildlife viewing! Native plants attract native wildlife, including birds and butterflies, which are a pleasure to observe and learn from.


10. San Diego pride. Native plants are an essential part of our local heritage - our native plant communities and wildlife are part of what makes us 'America's Finest City'.
    

Get involved in the Flyway Cities Coalition! Join with others in your metropolitan area to protect and restore wildlife habitat.