Designates April 2025 as "National Native Plant Month" to recognize the importance of native plants to the environment and economy.
Ed Case
Representative
HI-1
This bill supports designating April 2025 as "National Native Plant Month" to recognize the importance of native plants to the environment and the economy. It acknowledges the critical role of native plants in maintaining healthy ecosystems, supporting wildlife, and providing other environmental benefits. The bill also recognizes the decline in native plant species and the need for conservation efforts.
April 2025 Could Be 'National Native Plant Month': Here's What That Means for Your Backyard and Beyond
This resolution pushes to officially designate April 2025 as "National Native Plant Month." The goal? To highlight why native plants matter—for clean air, clean water, and stable soils across the U.S. The bill points out that these 17,000+ species, adapted to local conditions, are essential for supporting wildlife by providing food and shelter, Section 2.
Why Native Plants Matter
The resolution lays out some serious benefits. Native plants are crucial for keeping our ecosystems healthy. They help purify the air we breathe, filter the water we drink, and keep soil in place, preventing erosion, Section 1. Think of them as nature's own infrastructure, working 24/7.
The Real-World Impact
Imagine a local community garden shifting to all-native plants. This could mean less need for pesticides, lower water bills, and a boom in local butterflies and birds. Or picture a homeowner choosing native shrubs instead of imported ones, creating a low-maintenance yard that's also a mini-habitat, Section 3.
Facing the Challenges
The resolution also acknowledges that we've lost over 200 native plant species since the 1800s. The culprits? Habitat loss, extreme weather, and invasive species taking over, Section 2. Designating a National Native Plant Month is a step toward raising awareness and, hopefully, sparking action to protect and restore these vital plants.