Doug Tallamy to Lecture at Grow Native Massachusetts
Grow Native Massachusetts begins their monthly Evenings with Experts lecture series on February 5 with Doug Tallamy, author of Bringing Nature Home. Tallamy will present “Nature’s Best Hope” at 7:00pm at Harvard University Science Center Hall B.
The 2020 series also features:
~ Jesse Bellemare – Climate Change, Conservation, and the Role of Native Plant Horticulture
~ Dan Jaffe – Designing with Plant Communities
~ Heather Holm – Native Bees: Our Pollination Powerhouses
Find more information about all of these events at Grow Native Massachusetts.
Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens Offers New Advanced Studies Program
CMBG will offer a new certificate course in 2020 geared toward professionals and students in the landscape industry. Resilient Landscapes in the Built Environment will offer landscape professionals tools to create sustainable, healthy, and long-lived landscapes. Details posted soon at www.mainegardens.org or contact Irene Barber.
Ecopsychology: How Immersion in Nature Benefits Your Health
A growing body of research points to the beneficial effects that exposure to the natural world has on health, reducing stress and promoting healing. Now, policymakers, employers, and healthcare providers are increasingly considering the human need for nature in how they plan and operate. Read more in Yale Environment 360.
The Plastics Pipeline: A Surge of New Production Is on the Way
Already awash in plastic, we’ll soon see more, as a host of new petrochemical plants – their ethane feedstock supplied by the fracking boom – come online. Faced with the prospect of reduced demand for their fuel, major oil companies are ramping up their plastics output. Read more in Yale Environment 360.
Can Invasive Species Replace Native Species as a Resource for Birds Under Climate Change? A Case Study on Bird-Fruit Interactions
A study released last year finds that native plants provide vital support to birds in Massachusetts. Data gathered at Manomet, a long-term bird observatory and stopover for migratory birds, was the site of the research, which confirmed that migratory birds select native plants over potentially more abundant invasive alternatives. Read more in ScienceDirect.
‘Butterfly Whisperer’ Revives Rare San Francisco Species
A butterfly hobbyist has brought the California Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly back to San Francisco after it virtually disappeared due to habitat loss. The “butterfly whisperer,” as he is known locally, introduced California pipevine (Aristolochia californica) to his own San Francisco yard, developing the habitat the swallowtail requires and raising caterpillars. Read more in VOX and CBSN Bay Area.
COGdesign Rolls Out New Projects
Eleven new community-initiated projects need landscape architects and designers to lead them to completion. Find details about all of the projects and sign up to help at COGdesign.
US Water Alliance Announces New Competition
Awarded annually, the US Water Prize celebrates outstanding achievement in the advancement of sustainable, integrated, and inclusive solutions to the nation’s water challenges. Nominations are due Wednesday, February 19; winners will be announced and recognized during a ceremony held May 12 in Washington DC. Find out more at US Water Alliance.
Opportunities for Grants
MassTrails Grants
Grant funds available for design, project development, engineering, permitting, construction, and maintenance of recreational trails, shared-use pathways, and the amenities that support trails. Deadline for application: Feb. 1, 2020. Information and online submission form here.
