One person can organize a rescue to save valuable native plants from destruction due to development Ed Travis Austin NPSOT July 19 2014 Plant Rescues What is a Plant Rescue Development puts native plants at risk ID: 388055
Download Presentation The PPT/PDF document "Plant Rescues" is the property of its rightful owner. Permission is granted to download and print the materials on this web site for personal, non-commercial use only, and to display it on your personal computer provided you do not modify the materials and that you retain all copyright notices contained in the materials. By downloading content from our website, you accept the terms of this agreement.
Slide1
Plant Rescues
One person can organize a rescue to save valuable native plants from destruction due to development
Ed Travis, Austin NPSOT, July 19, 2014Slide2
Plant Rescues
What is a Plant Rescue?
Development puts native plants at risk
Plant rescues can save valuable native plantsA “For Sale” sign is essentially an invitation to inspect the property.Individual circumstances determine the ease of collecting/saving these plants
Site of future CVS Pharmacy
As a rescue organizer you can make a big difference!
Start with a small rescue and build your experience.Slide3
Urban/Large, Rural/Small
Plant rescues vary from one situation to the next
The number of volunteers can vary from one or two, to scores of participants
Larger rescue efforts take much more planning to provide access, parking, tools, transportation, and care of rescued plants.The agreement with the landowner/developer may be informal for small rescues, but larger rescues should use liability waivers, etc. to ensure protection for the rescuers as well as for the landowner/developer.
Dale Bulla (NPSOT member and Habitat Steward) and John Chenoweth (Endangered Species Biologist, BCP) at an Austin, Texas Plant Rescue in Summer 2013
Photo: Pat Bulla (used with permission)Slide4
Uses For Rescued Plants
Obvious benefits to wildlife
Food
Habitat
Places to raise young
Photos: Ed Travis
(used with permission)
Capsicum annuum
Chasmanthium latifolium
Callicarpa americanaSlide5
Uses For Rescued Plants
As restoration plants for parks or other areas damaged by non-native invasives.
As plant material for schools to use in their outdoor education classes.
For use landscaping rescuers’ homes, gifts, etc.For use as propagation stock for native plant growers
Revegetation after invasive species removal at Mayfield Park in Austin
Photos: Ed Travis (used with permission)Slide6
Value of Rescued Plants
One worker can save 50-75 small one to five gallon plants in one day, worth $500-$1000.
Uncommon or even rare species are sometimes rescued.
In one instance, the entire population of the Cat Mountain strain of the Bracted twistflower was saved during an Austin plant rescue.
Jenny Norman, NWF Habitat Steward, collecting plants at an Austin, Texas Plant Rescue in Summer 2013
Photo: Pat Bulla (used with permission)Slide7
Plant Rescue Partners
There are MANY potential partners for a plant rescue that you may contact to increase your impact
Park support organizations like the Austin Parks Foundation
Non-profits that support environmental causes like Keep Austin BeautifulLocal NPSOT chapters
Organizations such as the NWF Habitat Stewards, the Audubon Society, gardening clubs, homeowner’s organizations, the Sierra Club, Recreational Sports clubs, fraternities and sororities can all provide volunteers.
The developer may be interested in portraying their project in a more positive light, and may therefore be willing to provide logistic and even limited financial support for a visible public acknowledgement from the participating environmental groups.
Start small, build a set of reliable partners, and repeat the effort as often as sites can be identified and approval obtained.Slide8
Important Rescue Issues
Access and parking, especially for larger rescues
Safety, including water and food for longer/harder rescue efforts
Large rescue efforts need a lot of empty one and five gallon pots, lots of trailer space, and facilities to care for plants during rehabilitation.If you make it fun and rewarding (take some plants home) for volunteers you’ll have more participants.Slide9
Plant Rescue Checklist
(Not all items are relevant for small/informal/rural rescues.)
Identify legal owner of property
Owner involvement and approvalEstablish overall bounds of rescue area
Clearly stake out and/or tape off entire boundary of rescue area
Identify off-limits areas
Determine access limitations, if any, and quantity and location for parking.Method for on-site communication (cell phone, radio)
Announcement: Date and time (start and end), printable map with directions to sitePre-registration (if required, do NOT provide location until individual is pre-registered)
Check-in forms, staff, tableWaiver of Liability (see attached example)Detailed instructions sheetDefine scope of natives available (the opportunity)
Any restrictions on rescued plant disposition?For personal use
For local city parks, etc.For resale?
Equipment and materials (shovels, pails, water, etc.)
Safety issues, e.g. weather; possibility of cancellation
Volunteers identified
Check-in staff
Parking directors
Plant identification experts
Plant collection and removal area
Trucks and/or trailers for transportation
Publicity
NPSOT News, chapter websites, blogs, etc.
Local newspapers and other media
Partner Organization newsletters