National Wildlife Federation's Backyard Program
Does Your Garden Qualify as a Wildlife Natural Habitat?
Sep 29, 2009
To encourage grass roots individual efforts to protect birds and other wildlife, and heighten public awareness, the United States National Wildlife Federation (NWF) has a program for recognition of private backyards, gardens and properties that qualify as natural habitats.
NWF Program Requirements
A backyard or property qualifies as a natural habitat if it has the following features available to wildlife:
- natural food or feeder sources (minimum of 3 types required): these can be trees and bushes that produce nuts and berries; examples include dogwood trees; acorn oaks; holly bushes; hawthorne varieties; sunflowers;butterfly gardens; honeysuckle and other flowering plants rich in nectar; hummingbird feeders; squirrel feeders; bird feeders;
- water source (minimum of 1 type required), such as birdbath, stream, pond, pool, lake;
- natural cover for shelter from predators (minimum of 2 types required), such as bushes that grow naturally in thickets, rock or wood pile, cave, unmowed areas allowed to flourish naturally (such as wildflower gardens or fields); overgrown fence rows;bird houses and roosting boxes provided also count;
- areas that provide sufficient comfort and cover for wildlife to raise their young (minimum of 2 types required); some types of natural cover that will serve this purpose are mature trees and dense thickets; also you may provide bird houses and nesting boxes; other natural areas are caves, wetland. burrows; host plants for cocoon stages for butterflies and praying mantis;
- sustainable gardening practices (minimum of 2 required), such as the use of mulch and composting, natural fertilizers rather than chemicals, rain water collection for watering, rain garden, control of exotic plants not native, reducing open lawn with natural plantings instead.
These requirements are easy to meet. If your backyard garden does not already have all the elements of a natural wildlife habitat, there are simple things to do to qualify.
For the requirement of food sources, planting of appropriate trees, plants and bushes, such as along the back property line and as decorative trees and garden areas, will combine landscaping objectives for your property with providing food sources for birds, butterflies, honeybees, squirrels, and other wildlife. Additionally, simple inexpensive bird and other wildlife feeders can be put in place.
If a natural water element is not a part of your property, an inexpensive source can be added, such as a birdbath. Architectural landscape water decorations also serve this natural function, for example fountains and koi pools.
Cover sources also can be worked into landscaping, especially along borders and as back plantings that provide staging for annuals and lower growing decorative perennials and bushes. Cover and nesting areas sufficient for wildlife also do double duty as privacy screenings.
Similarly, composting and refraining from use of chemical fertilizers are easy commitments in today's gardening market, which has many natural alternatives readily available. These and other practices, such as rainwater collection and constructing a natural brushpile disguised by overgrowing attractive native flowering vines (such as honeysuckle) not only benefit wildlife habitat but are also environmentally friendly and cost-effective "green" practices.
NWF Certification of Your Backyard Habitat
NWF requires a written application and an application fee (currently $20), but this does not signify that this prized certification can be simply "bought." There is an application process that entails the applicant's completion of a detailed form attesting that the minimum number of required practices are engaged in each habitat component. The application form provides several alternatives for each required area. The applicant checks the types of habitat-friendly features that are present on the premises.
With the certification, NWF provides some benefits: free membership in NWF: listing in NWF's national registry of certified habitats; quarterly newsletter; subscription to National Wildlife Magazine: and 10% off purchases in NWF's catalog.
A certified backyard wildlife habitat holder can also purchase NWF's sign to post on the property, announcing that it is a certified wildlife habitat area. This is well worth consideration. It is an officially well-made sign, not expensive, that notifies the public (and friends) of the importance of your property and your efforts in environmental preservation.
For further assistance, contact NWF and your local or state agricultural extension service.
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