Ecosystem resilience has never been more critical. Escalating climate change is driving the movement to preserve and protect our lands.
Native plants are important components of environmental land management. Their unique evolutionary characteristics support the relationship between natural sites and wildlife. Natives thrive in their specific environment with minimal human intervention. They can also mitigate the effects of pollution and support healthy soil. This article outlines five ways native plants contribute to climate resilience.
Biodiversity Support
Climate change continues to push planting zones north. Besides temperature, rainfall and soil type impacts which plants thrive in an area. Climate change can push species outside of their evolved tolerances as they can no longer survive within new geographic climate conditions. Plant populations must acclimate, adapt, or migrate to more favorable conditions to avoid extinction. Also, ranges of invasive plant and insect species are expanding meaning natives have to contend with other plants for space and resources. Native plants are vital to the intricate web of ecological relationships. Besides supporting wildlife and living soils, they are more resilient to climate change.
Drought Resistance
One of the most devasting effects of climate change is drought. Manyregions have seen an unprecedented lack of rain over the past several years that has severely impacted vegetative growth. Native plants’ unique characteristics help them survive during times of water scarcity, but lack of rain still poses a risk to long term health. These traits include deep root systems, specialized leaves, and water storage structures.
Native plant survival during periods of drought conditions also helps support soil microorganisms that have developed relationships with natives over thousands of years. These help soil aggregates absorb water without breaking apart. They also help the soil hold moisture during long periods of drought.
Soil Health and Carbon Sequestration
Native plant root systems help prevent soil erosion. This stabilizes landscapes and strengthens soil structure from within. Some native plants form symbiotic relationships with various microorganisms. This in turn fosters nutrient cycling and soil enrichment which provides several environmental benefits.
Native plants have a superior capacity to help sequester carbon in the soil where it’s immensely valuable to plant life. This process reduces carbon dioxide levels while enhancing soil fertility and resilience.
Relationships with Pollinators
Natives have intricate bonds with bees, butterflies, and birds. These plants provide essential nectar and pollen as a food source. Pollinators support the reproduction of plants through the transfer of pollen. This co-evolutionary process ensures plants’ and pollinators’ adaptation andsurvival. It also helps make them more resistant to the impacts of climate change.
Resilience to Pests and Diseases
Native plants have developed defenses against local pests and diseases. This natural balance help reduce the risk of large-scale outbreaks. Landscapes with large native plant species populations are less vulnerable to invasive pests.
Disease resistance is crucial in a changing climate when every survival advantage becomes a critical adaptation. Shifts in temperature and precipitation can create favorable conditions for pests, leading to incidence of illness and deadly disease. Preserving native plant communities promotesthe long-term health of ecosystems by laying the foundation for future survival success.
Better Natives Begin at Forrest Keeling
Mitigating the impact of climate change requires a proactive approach. Reducing pollution and the impacts of climate change are important. But the protection of natural areas and increasing native plant populations help restore environments.
Forrest Keeling has been a leader in native plant production for decades. Our RPM growing method produces the best plants on the market. Contact Forrest Keeling for more information about native plants for your next project.
Forrest Keeling… it’s where the best trees begin!