How might we encourage/allow more native plants in new developments?

[LeRoy Harvey]

Hi All,

 

David Arnosti asks a question that some of you have probably thought about (see his email below):  “How can we incorporate native plants in new developments?”  Dave recently staffed a site on the Meridian Eco-Tour earlier this month at Haslett Community Church, where they’ve planted several beautiful native gardens, one recently right on Haslett Road.

 

I realize that native plants may not be on every developer’s priority list, but perhaps we could revisit/brainstorm some ways to enable, stimulate, and remove obstacles to more planting of native plants…   I’m willing to assemble your ideas if you want to shoot me a few thoughts.  (I’ve also taken the liberty of sharing a few below).

 

Here are a couple that come to mind… (What’s missing?)

1)      Share Emma’s “Planting a Native Meridian” with landscaping firms, developers, engineering staff, neighborhood associations, planners, etc.

2)      Support regional “green infrastructure” policies such as those outlined in Tri-County Regional Planning Commission’s (Cliff Walls) audit of Meridian.

3)      Share a list of local contractors, designers, suppliers of native plants

4)      Highlight existing success stories such a some mentioned on our Meridian Green Map (with photos, links, etc.)

5)      Create some more media outreach… similar to other promo we’ve done related to FOG, No Wipes, Wetland Protection, shoreline protection, etc.

6)      Promote the Green Grant Program as a way to help support and incentivize.

7)      Collaborate with organizations such as the Capital Area Landscape and Nurserymen’s Assoc, WildOnes, Drain Commissioners office, Wetland Education Team, Meridian Conservation Corps, MSU Extension (Paige), Neighborhood Associations, etc.

8)      Distribute info with permits (soil erosion, building, etc.)

9)      Highlight things we’re already doing in parks, Harris Nature Center, land preserves (seed collection, buffers, invasive removal, general appreciation of nature)

 

What else?  Which of these ideas seem most ready to go, important, or helpful?

 

I love the social marketing approaches outlined by MSUE and MDEQ (focus on “early adopters”) and promoting “cues to care”

 

Thanks,

 

LeRoy

 

 

From: Arnosti, David <arn...@msu.edu>
Sent: Thursday, October 19, 2023 9:40 AM
To: LeRoy Harvey <har...@meridian.mi.us>
Subject: Re: Energy Team Meeting

 

Hi LeRoy, I will be joining the meeting late today, as I have a seminar to 12:30. 

 

A topic that came up at the “Green Team” book club on Tuesday was whether Meridian Township planning assesses the incorporation of native plantings in the context of new developments. That’s a bit outside of the gambit of the Energy Team, but it does connect with making Meridian Township a center of renewable planning.

 

Best regards,

 

David

 

Professor David Arnosti

Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
413 Biochemistry
603 Wilson Road
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824-1319
arn...@msu.edu
www.arnostilab.natsci.msu.edu
tel: 517-432-5504

he/him