Backyard Habitat Certification Program. Nikkie West & Susie Peterson Backyard Habitat Program Managers

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1 Backyard Habitat Certification Program Nikkie West & Susie Peterson Backyard Habitat Program Managers

2 Conserve and care for the vital lands, waters, and wildlife of the Columbia River region through sound science and strong relationships. 32,000 acres conserved & counting

3 Audubon Society of Portland

4 Do Backyards Matter?

5 We have to raise the bar on our landscapes In the past, we have asked one thing of our gardens: that they be pretty. Now they have to support life, sequester carbon, feed pollinators and manage water. Doug Tallamy, University of Delaware

6 Our Mission: The Backyard Habitat Certification Program provides technical assistance, incentives and recognition to small-lot private property owners as they restore native wildlife, reduce pesticides and manage stormwater at home. Together we are planting roots, creating habitat and transforming the world one yard at a time.

7 Program History West Willamette Restoration Partnership (a restoration in Pdx SW Hills) Summit at Oregon Zoo Portland Audubon and Three Rivers Land Conservancy (Columbia Land Trust) launched BHCP in Portland Expanded into Lake Oswego Expanded into Gresham/Fairview Expanded into Clackamas County Phase I: West Linn, Milwaukie, Oak Grove, Jennings Lodge 2018 Expand into Clackamas County Phase II: Oregon City, Happy Valley, Wilsonville, Damascus, Gladstone

8 Backyard Habitat Certification Program How Does it Work? Sign-up; cost = $35 1 Hour Site Assessment w/staff Technician Resource Packet & coupons Site Report Plant sales Get dirty! Certification Visit (volunteers do these!) Certification sign, recognition and benefits Upgrades and renewals

9 Getting Certified: What does it take? 1. Remove Invasive Species 2. Plant NativeSpecies 3. Pesticides Reduction 4. Wildlife Stewardship 5. Stormwater Management

10 Certification Levels SILVER GOLD PLATINUM

11 INVASIVES Remove invasive weeds: Silver example: Blackberry & ivy Gold example: Italian arum & lesser celandine Platinum example: Reed canarygrass & Tree of Heaven

12 NATIVES Silver = 5% Gold = 15% Platinum = 50%

13 STORMWATER Ecoroof Leave the leaves Other: Raingarden Adopt eco-friendly maintenance practices Water conservation Restore soils Large canopy trees Disconnect downspouts Remove impervious surfaces and grass

14 WILDLIFE Wildlife Water Feature Nest Box Nesting Bee Habitat Native Meadow Other: Cats indoors Snags & nurse logs Reduce outdoor lighting Reduce bird window collision Native pollinator meadow

15 Pesticides Reduction Take the Pledge and Download the free app for iphone today!!

16 Partnerships with Landscape Professionals List of Landscape Professionals Trained on BHCP criteria Resource if help needed Design, installation or maintenance Landscapers from each county

17 Accomplishments 4,200+ total properties enrolled 1,000+ total acres of enrolled properties 1,850 total properties certified volunteer hours dedicated to the BHCP 55,300 total native trees and shrubs planted

18 Total Program Impact

19 What s Next? Spring Expand into Clackamas County Phase II: Oregon City Gladstone Happy Valley Damascus Wilsonville Tualatin / Stafford

20 What can you do to help? Sign up on our wait list Help us promote our official expansion in the spring Help distribute our flyer throughout the city Explore our website at

21 Thank you to our Partners

22 Questions? This project has been a great learning experience, one that perhaps I have obsessed over. This spring has been particularly fun, watching most of the 200 some plants leaf & bloom. Since you were here last, neighbors were inspired & removed their fence for the view & friendship; probably the greatest compliment. - Gwen A year after being Backyard Habitat Certified, we are seeing results. Yesterday it was both Northern Flicker and Downy Woodpeckers. Last week it was Townsend Warbler, Solitary Verio, Towhee, and Varied Thrush - Dave