Native plants can help support declining bird and insect populations while improving local landscapes, according to two environmental advocates who spoke Sept. 24 at the River Falls Public Library.
Margaret Smith, executive director of the Trumpeter Swan Society and a certified Wisconsin Master Garden-er, and Alicia Miller, watershed technician for the Kinnickinnic River Land Trust, discussed the environmental benefits of native plants, sustainable garden design and conservation funding during a presentation as part of a Sustainability Speaker Series.
The event was hosted in partnership with the University of Minnesota, Hope for Earth and the River Falls Public Library, with support from the River Falls Public Library Foundation. The presentation focused on ways residents can support local ecosystems, whether through small backyard gardens or larger conservation projects.
Native plants support local wildlife
Smith said that since 1970, North American bird populations have declined by nearly 3 billion birds, citing research discussed during her presentation. She connected the decline to habitat loss and decreasing insect populations, which provide an essential food source for birds.
“Your garden is a grocery store for food, and it’s also a home for wildlife,’ Smith said.
She encouraged residents to incorporate native plants into existing gardens to provide food and shelter for insects, birds and other wildlife. According to Smith, certain native plants, known as keystone plants, support especially large numbers of caterpillar species.
She highlighted oak trees, birch trees, willows and American plum trees as examples, along with flowering plants such as asters, goldenrod and native sunflowers. Smith explained that caterpillars are particularly important to birds raising their young. She cited the Carolina chickadee as an example, noting that a single brood can require thousands of caterpillars.
Residents can identify native plants suited to their area through the National Wildlife Federation’s Native Plant Finder, which allows users to search by ZIP code.
Smith also encouraged residents to reconsider common yard maintenance practices. Raking away all fallen leaves, mowing beneath trees and cutting plant stems too short can disturb insects and their eggs, she said.
“If you don’t have holes in your leaves, you don’t have an ecosystem,” Smith said, quoting a former UW Extension educator.
Rather than treating all insect activity as a problem, Smith encouraged homeowners to recognize that insects are a necessary part of a functioning ecosystem.
Native gardens can fit existing landscapes
Smith also addressed concerns that native plant gardens must look untidy or resemble large prairie landscapes.
She showed examples of gardens that combine native plants with traditional ornamental plants, using thoughtful arrangements to create an organized appearance.
She highlighted three garden design principles: maintaining clear boundaries between lawns and garden beds, incorporating objects such as benches or birdbaths to establish visual focal points, and repeating plants throughout a garden to create a cohesive design.
Smith said residents do not need large properties to make an environmental difference. Native plants can be grown in containers, incorporated into existing flower beds or planted in larger areas.
She also encouraged residents to register their gardens through Homegrown National Park, a conservation initiative that allows individuals and organizations to document habitat restoration efforts on their properties.
Local resources for purchasing native plants include Landscape Alternatives, Dragonfly Gardens, Habitat Native Nursery, Kinnickinnic Natives and Oakback Outback Nursery.
Conservation programs offer funding opportunities Miller focused on conservation opportunities for property owners interested in protecting or improving larger areas of land.
She explained that residents may not realize how many financial assistance programs are available for conservation projects, particularly when their properties are not used for agriculture.
Miller recommended beginning with a county land and water conservation department, where staff can help property owners identify programs and connect with other conservation organizations.
Potential resources include county tree programs, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Depending on the program and project, assistance may support tree planting, pollinator habitats, prairie restoration, forestry and other wildlife conservation efforts.
Miller emphasized that property owners can combine multiple programs to support different conservation goals on the same property.
She also described the role of conservation easements, which allow landowners to retain ownership of their property while voluntarily restricting certain development rights to protect the land.
The Kinnickinnic River Land Trust has protected more than 2,000 acres through conservation easements, Miller said.
Protecting land throughout a watershed can benefit more than the property itself. Preserving undeveloped land helps maintain areas where water can infiltrate the ground and supports native vegetation, she explained.
Miller encouraged residents to seek assistance from local conservation professionals rather than attempting to navigate the available programs alone.
Stewardship funding remains a concern
Miller also raised concerns about the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program, a Wisconsin conservation funding program that has supported land protection and open space projects.
She said the program did not receive funding in the current budget cycle, despite its importance to conservation efforts in the River Falls area.
She pointed to past funding used by the city and the Kinnickinnic River Land Trust to support local projects, emphasizing the program’s role in preserving open spaces.
The speakers’ presentations highlighted different ways residents can contribute to environmental conservation, from planting native flowers in a backyard to pursuing funding for larger land-management projects.
Both emphasized that residents can make a difference by using available resources and taking steps to protect local ecosystems.
