Backyard Habitat Certification Program Nikkie West & Susie Peterson Backyard Habitat Program Managers
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
Audubon Society of Portland
Do Backyards Matter?
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
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.
Program History 2006-2009 - West Willamette Restoration Partnership (a restoration in Pdx SW Hills) 2008 - Summit at Oregon Zoo 2009 - Portland Audubon and Three Rivers Land Conservancy (Columbia Land Trust) launched BHCP in Portland 2011 - Expanded into Lake Oswego 2015 - Expanded into Gresham/Fairview 2017 - 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
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
Getting Certified: What does it take? 1. Remove Invasive Species 2. Plant NativeSpecies 3. Pesticides Reduction 4. Wildlife Stewardship 5. Stormwater Management
Certification Levels SILVER GOLD PLATINUM
INVASIVES Remove invasive weeds: Silver example: Blackberry & ivy Gold example: Italian arum & lesser celandine Platinum example: Reed canarygrass & Tree of Heaven
NATIVES Silver = 5% Gold = 15% Platinum = 50%
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
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
Pesticides Reduction http://www.growsmartgrowsafe.org/ Take the Pledge and Download the free app for iphone today!!
Partnerships with Landscape Professionals List of Landscape Professionals Trained on BHCP criteria Resource if help needed Design, installation or maintenance Landscapers from each county
Accomplishments 4,200+ total properties enrolled 1,000+ total acres of enrolled properties 1,850 total properties certified 7800+ volunteer hours dedicated to the BHCP 55,300 total native trees and shrubs planted
Total Program Impact
What s Next? Spring 2018 - Expand into Clackamas County Phase II: Oregon City Gladstone Happy Valley Damascus Wilsonville Tualatin / Stafford
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 www.backyardhabitats.org
Thank you to our Partners
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