CREDIT: LINDA ABRAMS
In 1972, two U.S. Forest Service scientists found that the basic principles applied by wildlife managers to large-scale habitats—providing food, water, cover, and places for animals to raise young—also work on small-scale landscapes. Based on that research, the following year the National Wildlife Federation launched what has become known as the Garden for Wildlife® movement, inspiring people to create landscapes and other garden spaces designed to provide the habitat essentials for birds, butterflies, bees, and other local wildlife.
The idea is simple: wildlife depend on plants to provide those elements of habitat, specifically the native plants that co-evolved in their ecosystem. By choosing native plants for your landscape or other garden space and by designing and maintaining it in a natural, sustainable way, you can restore habitat for wildlife right around your own home and community. Spaces with at least 70 percent native plants have a significant benefit to wildlife.
What it all boils down to is this: the act of planting something for a purpose is the definition of gardening, so when you plant natives to support wildlife, you are part of the Garden for Wildlife® movement!
When you create a space that provides four essential habitat elements – food, water, cover, and places to raise young – and practice sustainable gardening, the National Wildlife Federation will recognize it as a Certified Wildlife Habitat®.
An ideal Certified Wildlife Habitat® provides food, water, cover, and places to raise young for wildlife with a minimum goal of 70% native plants that provide multi-season bloom and are free of neonicotinoids and other pesticides or herbicides.
Read more about each of these habitat essentials and use our checklist to see if you’re ready to certify your habitat.
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