Plant RescuesOne person can organize a rescue to save valuable native plants from destruction due to development

Ed Travis, Austin NPSOT, July 19, 2014

Plant RescuesWhat is a Plant Rescue?

Development puts native plants at risk

Plant rescues can save valuable native plants

A “For Sale” sign is essentially an invitation to inspect the property.

Individual circumstances determine the ease of collecting/saving these plants

Site of future CVS Pharmacy

As a rescue organizer you can make a big difference!

Start with a small rescue and build your experience.

Urban/Large, Rural/SmallPlant rescues vary from one situation to the next

The number of volunteers can vary from one or two, to scores of participants

Larger rescue efforts take much more planning to provide access, parking, tools, transportation, and care of rescued plants.

The agreement with the landowner/developer may be informal for small rescues, but larger rescues should use liability waivers, etc. to ensure protection for the rescuers as well as for the landowner/developer.

Dale Bulla (NPSOT member and Habitat Steward) and John Chenoweth (Endangered

Species Biologist, BCP) at an Austin, Texas Plant Rescue in Summer 2013

Photo: Pat Bulla (used with permission)

Uses For Rescued PlantsObvious benefits to wildlife

Food

Habitat

Places to raise young

Photos: Ed Travis(used with permission)

Capsicum annuum

Chasmanthium latifolium

Callicarpa americana

Uses For Rescued Plants As restoration plants for parks or

other areas damaged by non-native invasives.

As plant material for schools to use in their outdoor education classes.

For use landscaping rescuers’ homes, gifts, etc.

For use as propagation stock for native plant growers

Revegetation after invasive species removal at Mayfield Park in Austin

Photos: Ed Travis (used with permission)

Value of Rescued Plants One worker can save 50-75

small one to five gallon plants in one day, worth $500-$1000.

Uncommon or even rare species are sometimes rescued.

In one instance, the entire population of the Cat Mountain strain of the Bracted twistflower was saved during an Austin plant rescue.

Jenny Norman, NWF Habitat Steward, collecting plants at an Austin, Texas Plant

Rescue in Summer 2013Photo: Pat Bulla (used with permission)

Plant Rescue Partners There are MANY potential partners for a plant rescue that you may contact

to increase your impact Park support organizations like the Austin Parks Foundation

Non-profits that support environmental causes like Keep Austin Beautiful

Local NPSOT chapters

Organizations such as the NWF Habitat Stewards, the Audubon Society, gardening clubs, homeowner’s organizations, the Sierra Club, Recreational Sports clubs, fraternities and sororities can all provide volunteers.

The developer may be interested in portraying their project in a more positive light, and may therefore be willing to provide logistic and even limited financial support for a visible public acknowledgement from the participating environmental groups.

Start small, build a set of reliable partners, and repeat the effort as often as sites can be identified and approval obtained.

Important Rescue Issues Access and parking, especially for larger rescues

Safety, including water and food for longer/harder rescue efforts

Large rescue efforts need a lot of empty one and five gallon pots, lots of trailer space, and facilities to care for plants during rehabilitation.

If you make it fun and rewarding (take some plants home) for volunteers you’ll have more participants.

Plant Rescue Checklist(Not all items are relevant for small/informal/rural rescues.)

Identify legal owner of property

Owner involvement and approval

Establish overall bounds of rescue area

Clearly stake out and/or tape off entire boundary of rescue area

Identify off-limits areas

Determine access limitations, if any, and quantity and location for parking.

Method for on-site communication (cell phone, radio)

Announcement: Date and time (start and end), printable map with directions to site

Pre-registration (if required, do NOT provide location until individual is pre-registered)

Check-in forms, staff, table

Waiver of Liability (see attached example)

Detailed instructions sheet

Define scope of natives available (the opportunity)

Any restrictions on rescued plant disposition?

For personal use

For local city parks, etc.

For resale?

Equipment and materials (shovels, pails, water, etc.)

Safety issues, e.g. weather; possibility of cancellation

Volunteers identified

Check-in staff

Parking directors

Plant identification experts

Plant collection and removal area

Trucks and/or trailers for transportation

Publicity

NPSOT News, chapter websites, blogs, etc.

Local newspapers and other media

Partner Organization newsletters