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In a world where the environment faces increasing challenges like climate change, habitat loss, and declining biodiversity, restoring our natural landscapes has become a vital priority. We believe that using native plants is one of the most impactful ways to support local ecosystems, improve biodiversity, and create sustainable, thriving habitats for future generations.
By making thoughtful choices in our gardens and communities, we can reduce resource consumption, conserve water, and provide critical habitats for pollinators and wildlife. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just beginning, NPI is here to guide you in creating spaces that are both beautiful and ecologically responsible. about us!
Native plants are the foundation of a healthy food web. Many insects rely on native plants for food and cannot survive without them. If landscapes are dominated by non-native plants, they may offer little nutritional value for insects. Since insects are a primary food source for countless birds and mammals and pollinate many of our own food plants, a decline in insect populations can have cascading effects on the entire ecosystem.
Turf grass and non-native plants make up most of our yards and gardens, replacing the original biodiversity of native ecosystems and usually requiring chemical pesticides and herbicides to thrive. Adding natives can create more visual interest, provide crucial ecosystem services like floodwater management, and connect us to Louisiana’s natural landscapes.
Native plants have lived with local climate and soil conditions for thousands of years, making them better able to handle heavy rainfall, hot temperatures, and wet soils. They also have developed defenses against diseases and insects that non-native plants don't have, so natives tend to require less spraying, less fertilizing, and less fussing over in general.
To celebrate our native plant bounty and to promote the plants that make Louisiana unique, Gov. John Bel Edwards has proclaimed April 2023 as Native Plant Month in the state.
UNO has recently completed the terms of a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grant which enabled the purchase and planting of certain areas of campus that are now part of their Urban Bird Trail.
