A Dirty Secret

"In the evening, someone will go from house to house and tell the neighborhood that tomorrow will be a windy day and perhaps, a bad air day.  The next afternoon - if the conditions are just wrong - a toxic dust called coal ash picks up from the landfills and slag ponds at the nearby power plant and heads towards the reservation like a sandstorm."

Watch this video, and share it with everyone you know.



This isn't just here.  It's everywhere. 

In 1996 I moved to an area that was 20 miles from a coal plant.  In 1997, at the age of 25, I was diagnosed with asthma.  I'd never had a breathing problem before.  I was always doing activities outdoors.  But that's what did it... being outdoors.  The coal ash I was breathing had buried itself into my lungs.  I was afraid of going outside!

But in 2001 I moved again to a cleaner place far from any coal plants, and I never had an asthma attack again.  That was the thing that helped - moving far enough away to let my lungs clear up.  Not everyone can do that.

What needs to be the solution is switching over to cleaner, greener, renewable energy.  Look into solar panels for your home, or research the different energy providers in your area.  Find the one that is committed to using the highest percentage of renewable energy.

It's possible to reverse the damage done to our health and the environment. 

(I support Earth Justice.
Because the Earth needs a good lawyer.)

"What Are You Doing? Go Outside and Play!"

Those were the words I heard my mom say daily while growing up.  Even when I was very small - and after she helped me wash my hair - she would send me outside saying, "now go and let the sun dry your hair." 

We all have memories like that of our childhood as well as: jumping into a cool lake on a hot summer day, intently watching ants on the march, or spending hours just laying back and looking at clouds.  And whether we realized it or not, those moments in the outdoors helped shape our views on the world around us. 

But those kinds of memories are fading fast for many young people today.  The statistics are alarming: in a typical week, only 6% of children ages 9-13 play outside on their own, and kids 8-18 spend an overwhelming 53 hours a week using entertainment media. 

Even my daughter, an active skateboarder, has been tempted to stay indoors to master all Tony Hawk games on her Wii.  It was short-lived because she knows there's no substitute for the great outdoors.  But most kids don't know that.  They're outside only long enough to get from point A to point B - which is usually the front door (A) to car door (B) and vice versa.

Getting kids back outside is more important than ever - for the sake of the kids and the future of our planet.  Spending time outdoors at a young age is critical to fostering a healthy conservation ethic.  And an increasing number of studies illustrate that kids who spend time outdoors are happier, healthier, and smarter.  That alone is worth it isn't it?

Nature Rocks!

Developed by the nation's leaders in bringing families and nature together, Nature Rocks is a national program to inspire and empower families to play and explore in nature. 

This initiative gives busy parents and caregivers the tools, instructions and tips for quick, easy, inexpensive (or free) activities, so they can enjoy quality family time in nature. 

Find, Connect, Explore!

At Nature Rocks, parents will find more than 100 fun, easy-to-implement, and interesting activities based on their specific needs (time available, ages of children, location) - inspiring and empowering families to enjoy bonding experiences in nature:

• The parent-friendly Web site offers a Find Nature tool for parents to input their zip code and quickly locate a list of nearby parks, forests, Conservancy preserves, and more, including places that offer nature tours, classes, and even gear.
• Have fun in Flocks!  Now there is a way to take your family's social life into nature.  Start a Nature Rocks Flock, and get outside with friends, neighbors, family, school groups and others. 
• Parents can also take advantage of additional tools to invite family and friends to join in Nature Rocks activities - spreading the fun and turning nature adventures into adventure parties. 

The Nature Conservancy, ecoAmerica, the Children and Nature Network, REI, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, American Heart Association, and the American Camp Association have joined to make nature rock for your family.

Now you have no excuse.  What are you doing?  Go outside and play!

How to Get Off the Path to Destruction.

The science is in, and the basic facts are no longer disputable: global warming is happening, and it's happening because of us.  Human activities are transforming the Earth's atmosphere, and the result is a dangerous imbalance.  In the course of the coming century, global warming threatens to drive so many species extinct that we will no longer recognize the world we remember from our childhoods. 

The good news?  If we act fast, we still have a chance.  If we act fast, the polar bears - whose sea ice is melting beneath them - still have a chance; the great whales - who depend on a complex and delicately balanced food chain - still have a chance.  Our coastal cities still have a chance, too. 

More than any other single issue, the fight to stop global warming depends on swift and sure action: to avoid the worst effects of climate change, we need to get greenhouse gas emissions down by more than 80% by 2050.  We need to be leading the charge to save species like polar bears and penguins that are already severely threatened by the effects of climate change.  We need to call for drastic changes in our nation's energy policies that contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. 

But what will help us win the fight, ultimately, is the conviction and political will of Americans from all walks of life to make changes at home and to demand them from our nation's leaders. 

GO CLIMATE NEUTRAL

How you can do it:

Increasing our awareness of the greenhouse gas consequences of our energy use, travel, and food and other choices is the first step towards reducing our own emissions.  Use this simple tool to calculate your own emissions.

The average American generates approximately 24 tons of CO2 annually, but this number can be drastically reduced with simple changes, many of which will also save you money. 

CONTACT YOUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS

Whether your particular Congressional representatives have expressed support for actions to combat global warming, or they've decided to ignore the problem or even to oppose solutions, it is critical they hear constantly from their constituents on this issue. 

Find your elected official here.

Personal letters sent by mail receive the most attention at Congressional offices.  You can select from the points below, but it is best to use your own words whenever possible. 

Suggested talking points:

• Climate change is one of the most serious threats to society, the environment, and biodiversity. 
• Serious government action is required to combat global climate change.
• Because of our past actions, we have committed to continued warming over the next several decades, but we need you to pursue every option to reduce climate change.
• I realize that the policies necessary to fight climate change will affect our daily lives and entire country, and I support those solutions. 
• I am making changes in my daily life to take action to reduce global warning, but government action is necessary as well.
• I urge you to pursue and support every opportunity to reduce global warming.
• I support efforts to protect wildlife and biodiversity from the increasing threats of climate change.

The climate crisis threatens to devastate the diversity of life on Earth.  Scientist's warn that in just ten more years of continued greenhouse gas pollution trajectories may commit the planet to devastating warming, sea-level rise, and species extinction.  Greenhouse gas pollution reductions must begin immediately, and all sources must be addressed.

The Bluefin Boycott

The bluefin tuna, one of the world's most remarkable ocean creatures, is in trouble and needs your help.  Overfishing is driving this mighty warm-blooded fish toward the brink of extinction, and yet many sushi restaurants continue to serve it. 

Too often viewed only as sushi, the bluefin tuna is an extraordinary specimen of ocean wildlife, growing up to 10 feet long and sometimes weighing more than 1,000 pounds.  Unlike almost all fish, bluefin tuna are warm-blooded and able to regulate their body temperature, which helps during their epic 60-day journeys across the Atlantic.  Bluefin tuna are top ocean predators and sometimes hunt cooperatively, much like wolves.  With streamlined bodies and retractable fins, bluefin can bolt through the water at speeds of up to 50 miles per hour and are capable of crossing oceans in the course of only a few weeks. 

Unfortunately, due to its popularity as sushi, its high commercial value and its habit of crossing international boundaries, the bluefin tuna is being severely over-fished and is at risk of extinction.  Since 1970, western Atlantic bluefin tuna have declined by more than 80% due to overfishing.  Halfway through a 20-year government "rebuilding program" for the severely depleted population, there are barely any more fish than at the beginning of the program.  In the eastern Atlantic, the majority of the decline has occurred in the past 10 years as they've been caught, without regulatory oversight, for fish farming. 

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists two species of bluefin, the Atlantic and the southern, as endangered or critically endangered on its "Red List" of imperiled species.  The Pacific bluefin tuna is not yet listed, but overfishing is now occurring, according to the National Marine Fisheries Service. 

In spring 2010, bluefin tuna took a major hit at the height of its spawning season: Scientists estimate that BP's massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico killed more than 20% of juvenile western Atlantic bluefin tuna that year.  That estimate doesn't consider the expected long-term negative effects of the oil spill in the tuna's breeding habitat. 

Sadly, bluefin tuna remains a prized menu item in some restaurants.  The sushi market keeps prices for tuna high - a single tuna sold for nearly $396,000 in early 2011 - and encourages illegal and unreported fishing.  Despite outcry from concerned people, many sushi restaurants across the globe continue to serve bluefin tuna.  One common question: How can you tell if the tuna you are ordering is bluefin?  The best way to tell is to check the menu and ask.  Another broad rule of thumb: If its expensive, it could be bluefin. 

Conservation groups around the globe recommend the boycott of any restaurant that serves bluefin tuna.

House Votes Down "Extinction Rider"

In a victory for imperiled species, the U.S. House of Representatives today voted not to include the "extinction rider" in an appropriations bill that would have stopped the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from spending any money to protect new species under the Endangered Species Act or to designate "critical habitat" for their survival.  The House voted 224-202 in favor of an amendment from Rep. Norm Dick's (D-Wash.) to strip the "extinction rider" from the interior department's appropriation bill.

"The extinction rider would have been a disaster for hundreds of animals and plants across the country that desperately need the help of the Endangered Species Act to survive," said Noah Greenwald, endangered species program director for the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD).  "The vote is a promising sign for wolverines, walruses, and species in all 50 states that, without help, face the very real prospect of extinction."

wolverine

The vote comes as plants and animals across the country are at heightened risk of extinction due to habitat destruction, global climate change, extreme weather events and other factors.  Earlier this month the Fish and Wildlife Service and CBD reached a landmark agreement to speed protection for 757 imperiled U.S. species, including the wolverine, Pacific walrus, Rio Grand cutthroat trout and Mexican gray wolf.  The passage of the this bill would have delayed protection of those species and made their recovery more difficult. 

"While the vote on the extinction rider shows that the Endangered Species Act enjoys support from both sides of the aisle, the House is still threatening wide-spread environmental damage with other amendments to this spending bill," Greenwald said.  "We can't allow these measures to move ahead that will pollute our air and water, threaten public health and destroy pristine landscapes."

Mexican gray wolf

Among the measures still under consideration in the House are those that would:

• Stop more than 1 million acres around the Grand Canyon from being protected from new uranium mines;
• Force the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to stop all work limiting carbon dioxide pollution from power plants;
• Halt efforts under the Clean Water Act from protecting human health and endangered species from pesticides;
• Block EPA oversight of mountain removal coal mining in Appalachia;
• Interfere with the EPA's work to protect the public from toxic coal ash;
• Hinder the EPA's and U.S. Corps of Engineers' work to protect wetlands and other waters of the United States;
• Expedite air-pollution permits for offshore drilling in the Arctic.

The full appropriations bill for the Interior department is expected to be voted on by the House in the coming days.  If it passes, it moves to the Senate.  Last week, the White House signaled plans to veto the spending bill because of amendments that threaten wildlife, the environment, and clean air and water.

The EPA Needs to Hear from You About Mercury

The Environmental Protection Agency has proposed a rule that would significalntly reduce mercury pollution from coal-fired power plants.  We need to send a signal to the EPA that we support its new rule. 

Exposure to mercury can cause birth defects, neurological damage and countless other health and environmental problems.  If implemented, these new standards would prevent 17,000 deaths and 12,000 hospital visits each year.  That's why it's so important that we make our voices heard and stand up in support of the EPA's efforts. 

These same coal-fired power plants that pollute our air with mercury are polluting our atmosphere with millions upon millions of tons of carbon pollution, leading to dangerous changes in our climate. 

We need to make it clear that we want to take back our air and our health from the big polluters who poison it every day. 

Comments are constantly being accepted by the EPA, and the rule won't be finalized until November 2011.  The time is NOW to stand up for our health and shared future. 

Will you join me in telling the EPA to protect our health and our environment from the mercury pollution that comes from burning coal?  Join me and send a comment to the EPA today:

http://acp.repoweramerica.org/mercury-taf

Tell Secretary Salazar to Stop Shell's Arctic Drilling Plans

Shell just submitted a proposal to the Department of the Interior, which calls for ten new exploratory wells in the Arctic Ocean. They claim that the operations will be completely “safe and clean”, but are in fact based on the same flawed methods that caused the oil spill in the Gulf.

While the Department of the Interior is considering Shell’s proposal they have opened up a public comment period to hear from us. But we only have 24 hours before the comment period closes so it is important that we send them in now!

One single oil spill could completely destroy this fragile ecosystem forever.

Join me in sending a comment to Secretary Salazar today to reject Shells proposal to drill in the Arctic by clicking the link below…

http://us.greenpeace.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=865&s_src=taf

What's the Point of a Wetland?

Although large-scale benefits of functions can be valued, determining the value of individual wetlands is difficult because they differ widely and do not all perform the same functions or perform functions equally well. We all must understand that impacts on wetland functions can eliminate or diminish the values of wetlands.

Water storage:

Wetlands function like natural tubs or sponges, storing water and slowly releasing it.  This process slows the water's momentum and erosive potential, reduces flood heights, and allows for ground water recharge, which contributes to base flow to surface water systems during dry periods.  Although a small wetland might not store much water, a network of many small wetlands can store an enormous amount of water.  The ability of wetlands to store floodwaters reduces the risk of costly property damage and loss of life - benefits that have economic value to us. 

The flooding of the Mississippi River Basin in the spring of 2011 has caused billions of dollars in property damage, resulted in many deaths, and has devasted the lives of thousands.   Historically, over 20 million acres of wetlands in this area had been drained or filled for either commercial, residential, or agricultural purposes.  If the wetlands had been preserved rather than drained or filled, most of this damage could have been avoided. 

Water filtration:

After being slowed by a wetland, water moves around plants, allowing the suspended sediment to drop out and settle to the wetland floor.  Nutrients from fertilizer application, manure, leaking septic tanks, and municipal sewage that are dissolved in the water are often absorbed by plant roots and microorganisms in the soil.  Other pollutants stick to soil particles.  In many cases, this filtration process removes much of the water's nutrient and pollutant load by the time it leaves a wetland.  Some types of wetlands are so good at this filtration function that envrionmnetal managers construct similar artificial wetlands to treat storm water and wastewater. 

Biological productivity:

Wetlands are some of the most biologically productive natural ecosystems in the world, comparable to tropical rain forests and coral reefs in their productivity and the diversity of species they support.  Abundant vegetation and shallow water provide diverse habitats for fish and wildlife.  Aquatic plant life flourishes in the nutrient-rich environment, and energy converted by the plants is passed up the food chain to fish, waterfowl, and other wildlife and to us as well. 

Did you know?

• An acre of wetland can store 1-1.5 million gallons of floodwater.
• Up to one-half of North American bird species nest or feed in wetlands.
• Although wetlands keep only about 5% of the total land surface in the conterminous United States, they are home to 31% of our plant species. 

These beneficial services, considered valuable to socities worldwide, are the result of the inherent and unique natural characteristics of wetlands. 

What is a Wetland?

Although wetlands are often wet, a wetland might not be wet year-round.  In fact, some of the most important wetlands are only seasonally wet.  Wetlands are the link between the land and the water.  They are transition zones where the flow of water, the cycling of nutrients, and the energy of the sun meet to produce a unique ecosystem characterized by hydrology, soils, and vegetation - making these areas very important features of a watershed.  Using a watershed-based approach to wetland protection ensures that the whole system, including land, air, and water resources, is protected. 

Wetlands found in the United States fall into four general categories - marshes, swamps, bogs, and fens. 

Marshes are wetlands dominated by soft-stemmed vegetation.

Swamps are wetlands with mostly woody plants.

Bogs are freshwater wetlands, often formed in old glacial lakes, characterized by spongy peat deposits, evergreen trees and shrubs, and a floor covered by a thick carpet of sphagnum moss.

Fens are freshwater peat-forming wetlands covered mostly by grasses, sedges, reeds, and wildflowers.

The Good News:

Often called "nurseries of life," wetlands provide habitat for thousands of species of aquatic and terrestrial plants and animals.  Although wetlands are best known for being home to water lillies, turtles, frogs, snakes, alligators, and crocodiles, they also provide inportant habitat for waterfowl, fish, and mammals.  Migrating birds use wetlands to rest and feed during their cross-continental journeys and as nesting sites when they are at home.  As a result, wetland loss has a serious impact on these species.  Habitat degradation since the 1970s has been a leading cause of species extinction.

Two-thirds of the 10 million to 12 million waterfowl of the continental United States reproduce in the prarie pothole wetlands of the Midwest.  In the winter, millions of ducks can be found in the wetlands of the south-central United States.

Wetlands do more than provide habitat for plants and animals in the watershed.  When rivers overflow, wetlands help to absorb and slow floodwaters.  This ability to control floods can alleviate property damage and loss and can even save lives.  Wetlands also absorb excess nutrients, sediment, and other pollutants before they reach rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water.  They are great spots for canoeing, kayaking, hiking, bird-watching, and fishing.  And they make great classrooms for people of all ages. 

The forested wetland on the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia's Eastern Shore is part of the Atlantic Flyway, where shorebirds and waterfowl rest before they migrate south for the winter.

The Bad News:

Despite all the benefits provided by wetlands, the United States loses about 60,000 acres of wetlands each year.  The very runoff that wetlands help to clean can overload and contaminate these fragile ecosystems.  In addition, non-native species of plants and animals and global climate change contrubute to wetland loss and degradation. 

A watershed includes all the land that drains to a common body of water.  Using a watershed-based approach to protection ensures that the whole ecosystem is protected.

How can I help?

First, identify your watershed and find the wetlands in your neighborhood.  Learn more about them and share what you learn with someone you know.  Encourage neighbors, developers, and state and local governments to protect the functions and values of wetlands in your watershed. 

The nation behaves well if it treats the natural resources a assets which it must turn over to the next generation increased, and not impaired, in value.

- Theodore Roosevelt

To prevent wetland loss or degradation, here are some suggestions:

• Instead of draining or filling wetlands, find more compatible uses, such as waterfowl and wildlife habitat.
• When developing your landscaping plan, keep wetlands in mind.  Plant native grasses or forested buffer strips along wetlands on your property to protect water quality.
• Participate in a volunteer wetland monitoring program.
• Plan to avoid wetlands when developing or improving a site.  Get technical assistance from your state environmnetal agency before you alter a wetland. 
• Maintain wetlands and adjacent buffer strips as open space. 
• Support your local watershed association.
• Plan a wetland program or invite a wetland expert to speak at your school, club, youth group, or professional organization. 
• Build a wetland in your backyard.

Wetlands can be found in every county and climatic zone in the United States.

One Year Later and Congress Has Learned Nothing

Instead of making it harder for oil companies like Shell to drill in the icy waters of the Arctic Ocean, The House of Representatives just voted to make it easier.  If this legislation becomes law, the oil industry will be even less regulated now than it was a year ago before the BP disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. 

And to make matters worse, Shell already gets millions in subsidies every year from the U.S. government.  In fact, last year Shell paid effectively no taxes at all to the U.S. government.  Congress is giving them more incentive to take unacceptable risks with our national treasures.  It's time to put an end to this dangerous game.  We have a chance to do just that. 

As soon as tomorrow, Congress will be voting on a bill that would cut billions of dollars worth of subsidies to oil companies like Shell.  But the industry and their friends in Washington are currently doing everything they can to stop that from happening.  That's why you need to speak up and send a message to your members of Congress. 

Congress needs to hear your voice.  Ask your members of Congress to put an end to government subsidies to the oil industry now. 

Shell just submitted plans to drill up to ten new wells in Alaska's Arctic Ocean over the next two years using the same faulty tecnology that BP uses in the Gulf.  But Shell's plans in the shallow waters of the Arctic are even more dangerous than BP's are in the Gulf and run a higher risk of blowouts, according to government data. 

Shell isn't prepared for a disaster in the Arctic Ocean.  No one is.  It's a known fact that there is no way to effectively clean up an oil spill in the Arctic's harsh conditions.  All they care about is their corporate bottom line. 

Congress should be fighting for you.  It's your money, and it's our land.  The vote could be happening as soon as tomorrow.  Contact your members of Congress today and ask them to put an end to government subsidies to the oil industry before it's too late. 

(content - Melanie Duchin, Greenpeace Arctic Campaigner)

American Wetland Month

May is the month to recognize and celebrate the wonderful ways wetlands enrich the environment and people.  It is a time to give back to the environment by learning more about wetlands and participating in the many scheduled events. 

Why celebrate wetlands?

Wetlands are among the most valuable but least understood of all natural resources.  They provide rich habitat for wildlife.  They are places in which many animals and birds build nests and raise their young.  Migrating birds stop over in wetlands to rest and to feed.  We celebrate wetlands each May when they are teeming with new animal and plant life. 

Wetlands benefit our communities as well.  They replenish and clean water supplies and reduce flood risks, provide recreational opportunities and aesthetic benefits.  They serve as sites for scientific research and education, and benefit commercial fishing. 

Unfortunately, wetlands have been misundserstood for many years, often viewed as wastelands to be drained and converted to other uses.  But if wetlands disappear, water will not be as clean, fish and bird populations will suffer, and the frequency and severity of floods will increase.  Americans have begun to recognize the value of wetlands, and the rate of loss has declined dramatically over the last 30 years.  It is important that we continue to stop the loss of wetlands and begin to achieve a net gain through better management and restoration.  Learn how you can help by discovering more about wetlands and participating in events celebrating American Wetlands Month.

Wetland protection and you:

Government regulations and zoning restrictions are not enough to protect and restore wetlands. 
Citizens must also participate in wetland protection efforts.  You can identify your watershed and find any wetlands in your neighborhood by visiting National Wetlands Inventory.  Caring, devoted volunteers can make a big difference.

Where Bluebonnets Abound - Celebrating America's Wildflowers

The month of May reminds me of springtime back home, and by back home I mean Texas. 

I actually only lived there for a little over a decade.  However, the youngest two of my family were the only ones born there, and my parents still live there.  Over time we had gradually beome "native Texans."  And every year in May we would drive out to the country, pull off to the side of the road, and enter the great blue sea of bluebonnets for our family pictures. 

"No self-respectin' Texan passes up a photo-op with the bluebonnets."  (A comment my mother was known to make every year.) 

And it was true!  Every spring we would see others among the state's official wildflower posing in front of cameras.  The side of the road usually looked like a parking lot with everyone pulled over.  And the amazing thing was, we never accidentally got anyone else in our shots!  The fields where the bluebonnets grew were always so huge everyone was able to have their own space! 

I never realized how unique our situation was with an entire state celebrating this special wildflower.  After I moved away from Texas I remember visiting a friend where I currently live - a friend that had never lived in Texas.  And as I was going through her family's photo album that they gave me to look at I asked, "Where's your pictures with your state's wildflower?" 
They looked at me as if I had just asked them if I could pee on their carpet. 

So I explained... that families in Texas anually take photos with our bluebonnets,... that whenever I went to my friends' houses there were always framed pictures of children surrounded by bluebonnets hanging on the walls or sitting on shelves,... that my mom had an album labeled "bluebonnets only." 
"Really?  We never do that,"  I was told.  Then they asked, "We have a state wildflower?"
Very soon after that I realized it's practically a "Texas only" thing - which is sad. 

My family and I keep the wildflower tradition alive every May by visiting our current state's wildflower:  the black-eyed susan.

Though they aren't nealy as abundant as the bluebonnets were in Texas, they are still very pretty. 

This week we celebrate nature's bounty of wildflowers across the nation for National Wildflower Week. 

Across the nation, wildflowers growing beside highways, in gardens and elsewhere are valued for their natural beauty.  As Lady Bird Johnson (founder of National Wildflower Week) once said, "These and other native plants give us a sense of where we are in this great land of ours."

National Wildflower Week aims not only to highlight wildflowers' beauty, but to encourage citizens to understand their value and take steps to protect them.  Wildflowers and native plants help conserve water, reduce mowing costs, provide habitat for birds, butterflies and other wildlife and protect the soil from erosion.  In addition, native plants often require less resources to maintain than plants that aren't native to a region. 

But many wildflowers nationally are in danger from habitat loss, non-native plants that grow aggressively and compete for resources (called invasive plants) among other factors. 

How do I celebrate National Wildflower Week?

Participate in a local event.
Chances are, there is a wildflower event happening in your neighborhood.  Visit the National Organizations Directory to find a native plant society, conservation group, botanical garden or other plant related organizations where you live. 

Wildflower walks and garden visits.
Explore for yourself.  Bring a field guide.  Visit a sanctuary, state or local park, national forest or refuge, public or private garden, and other locations to experience the joy and beauty of wildflowers. 

Wildflower beautifation projects.
Introduce native wildflowers along roadsides, in parks, and around churches, schools, and other public and private buildings.  Request government and private support for such projects.  Encourage local nurseries and garden centers to stock native plants and seeds.

Celebrating wildflowers.
The national forests, national parks, national wildlife refuges, grasslands, and millions of acres of public lands are truly America's wildflower gardens.  Celebrating Wildflowers  is a website that promotes the many programs featuring the important role that the nations's public lands, over 630 million acres, play in providing diverse habitats for much of America's flora.