On Saturday, March 7, Indiana Wildlife Federation’s Annual Conference, “from Gardens to Grasslands,” was held at The Garrison Conference Center in Indianapolis, Ind.
The organization promotes the conservation, sound management and sustainable use of Indiana’s wildlife and its habitats through education, advocacy and action. The conference covered the importance of native habitats at every level of conservation, from gardening at home to large-scale restoration projects.
The participants of the conference varied from farmers, educators and citizens who want to practice native plant gardening in their yard. Moreover, the Indiana Native Plant Society had set up a table to explain the invasive species in Indiana and provide native plant seeds.
David Mizejewski, a naturalist and television host with the National Wildlife Federation, gave an opening talk, covering the importance of native species and practices to save them, even in a small garden. At the beginning of the talk, he emphasized the purpose of the event:
“Diversity is a good thing, whether it’s in our natural ecosystems or if it’s in our human society. We need it; it’s what makes us healthy and strong and resilient,” Mizejewski said.
Native Species Matter
Mizejewski asserted that growing native plants is important to create diverse habitats, making the ecosystem more resilient. According to the naturalist, over 90% of insects that rely on plants can only survive and thrive where they have access to indigenous plants they co-evolved with.
However, he raised concerns about how fast we’re losing these habitats, especially considering that 40% of amphibians are on the edge of extinction. Using the example of a monoculture lawn, he raised criticisms, saying, “This is what we’re up against. This is the standard across this country. … I find this depressing … because this is dead. Nothing lives here.”
The speaker then questioned audience members by asking, “Do you want to live in an environment of nothing but cement and asphalt and no bird song, or do you want to have a lush, beautiful landscape filled with beautiful native plants where you could hear the songs of the birds?”
How to Create Native Gardens
At the end of the talk, Mizejewski gave tips to create a native habitat in a garden. To create an ideal environment for a native garden, he said it needs “food, water, cover and places to hide.”
If we grow the right plants, the garden will attract insects or other animals that eat those plants, and they can be fed to other animals, creating a food web. Additionally, having a water source, such as a pond, will attract birds or amphibians.
Gardens also need cover — a place where animals can hide from predators or get out of the weather — such as evergreens. Lastly, creating places for animals and insects to reproduce and raise their offspring is important for a sustainable habitat, and this can also be achieved by planting dense vegetation.
The Role of Education
After the talk, Mizejewski answered in an interview about the role of education in bringing native species back into the environment.
He expressed worries about young generations spending less time in nature and touched on the importance of having a natural habitat nearby, saying, “What better, safer place for kids to explore nature than right in your own yard?”
How to Get Involved, Starting with the Ullem Campus Farm at DePauw
The Ullem Family Campus Farm at DePauw is taking action to bring back native habitats. According to the Farm Manager Jackie Kehr ‘08, they have planted multiple native flowers such as cornflowers and ironweeds. Kehr said these flowers would attract pollinators, which could benefit other crops on the farm.
Human actions are constantly changing the original natural environment, and as a result, many species have seen a population decline, and some have gone extinct. However, as Mizejewski asserted, people can make a difference, even at a small level, with collective action.
This conference worked as a tool to connect people, gather knowledge and give like-minded individuals a platform to cultivate and preserve native habitats in Indiana.
