Why Naturalize?
Why Naturalize?
At a time where habitat destruction is cited as the primary cause of global biodiversity decline, it’s worth asking: why settle for a landscape that contributes so little to the environment?
By: Sabrina Careri
Why Naturalize?
At a time where habitat destruction is cited as the primary cause of global biodiversity decline, it’s worth asking: why settle for a landscape that contributes so little to the environment?
Naturalizing your garden, even in part, represents a commitment to supporting biodiversity. This commitment is significant as biodiversity has proven to be our greatest natural defense against climate change.
Turfgrass lawns are a desert for biodiversity. So why do people still have them? Generally speaking, outdated views on aesthetics! Turfgrass provides virtually no habitat for urban ecology. Not to mention, turfgrass lawns are expensive. They need to be maintained through intensive management practices that require increased water use, fertilizers, and mowing, which contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and ground contamination levels.
At a time where habitat destruction is recognized as the primary cause of global biodiversity decline, it’s worth asking: why settle for a landscape that requires so much effort, yet contributes so little to the environment and biodiversity?
Alternative landscape practices (including naturalized lawns, pollinator patches, habitat gardens, rain gardens, rewilded meadows and xeriscaping, etc.) are a major contribution to regeneration for biodiversity. Naturalization is a form of ecological restoration, through the transformation of a garden to have more natural characteristics. This process involves human interference through acts of tending, planning, and care for the garden.
Through naturalization we provide habitat – most notably with a garden of native plant species – and fight mass species decline (such as the Insectageddon). These approaches support thriving insect, pollinator and bird communities in residential areas and beyond by providing food, shelter and places to reproduce, including host plants for their young. Not to mention, they also contribute to the beauty of the environment, offering a multi sensorial experience.
Still not convinced? Natural gardens address biodiversity recovery AND climate resilience. This is because they are also a great water management strategy, proven to be more effective at stormwater retention, reducing urban contamination and risks of flooding across urban areas, in other words, green infrastructure!
Excerpts taken from the Gardening for Biodiversity Booklets, developed in partnership with the Ecological Design Lab at Toronto Metropolitan University, Nature Canada, and FLAP Canada. Read more at: https://www.oursafetynet.org/whats-new/
