Advocating for Plants
This spring, ELA is focusing on advocacy in its member-only publication, Into the Weeds. This is our first exploration of what advocacy means for plants, for our organization, for you. In this climate we may all feel the need to advocate for organizations that we support, so we are providing some information to support your efforts to do so. Thank you so much to Carrie Radcliffe and her team at the Southeast Plant Conservation Alliance for sharing the following information:
Whether you are a non-profit organization or a private citizen wanting to get involved, advocating and lobbying on behalf of plants can help effect change at the local, state, and national level.
Non-profit organizations can participate in advocacy activities but are limited in their lobbying activities due to their 501(c)(3) status. Any non-profit wanting to get involved in advocacy should contact their tax lawyer to ensure any activities fall within legal guidelines.
We recommend referring to The Connection: Strategies for Creating and Organizing 501(c)(3)s, 501(c)(4)s, and Political Organizations by B. Holly Schadler as reference, which is linked below for download.
- Educating members of the public, agencies, and legislators about issues impacting organization’s mission
- Canvassing the public on issues
- Publishing legislative scorecards and preparing candidate questionnaires
- Advocating in connection with party platform issues
- Conducting nonpartisan get-out-the-vote activities, voter registration drives, and voter education activities
Individuals can participate in advocacy activities to support plant conservation. Some examples of ways private citizens can advocate on behalf of plants are listed below. You can also download and/or distribute the flyer in the Advocacy Resources section for additional guidelines and information.
- Introduce, vote for, or vote against specific proposed legislation
- Write or add signature to drafted letter regarding proposed legislation
- Contact another legislator in higher-ranking position
- Hold a meeting or town hall regarding issue
- Address House or Senate about issue
- Submit a statement to Congressional Record or official state record of legislative action
These are some of the recent pieces of proposed plant conservation legislation that are currently in progress in the House and/or Senate. To find out who your congressmen/women are for your district, search your address here.
Recovering America’s Wildlife Act
- 1149
The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act will provide states, territories, and tribes with $1.39 billion annually to catalyze proactive, on-the-ground, collaborative efforts to restore essential habitat and implement conservation strategies.
Native Plant Species Pilot Program Act
H.R. 1548
S. 557
The Native Plant Species Pilot Program Act will create a pilot program to utilize native plant materials in projects within National Park Service units to protect native plant biodiversity.
North American Grasslands Conservation Act of 2022
- 4639
“The North American Grasslands Conservation Act of 2022 will address important conservation, management, and research issues related to grasslands.”
-Southeastern Grasslands Initiative
Find your Members in the U.S. Congress
Click here to search by address for your congressmen and women.
