Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Native Plants topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Wild Ones member urges Oshkosh to expand native plantings, offers grants and sample ordinances
Summary
Ron Jones of Wild Ones told the Oshkosh Sustainability Advisory Board that native plants are essential to reverse local biodiversity loss, recommended a 70% native-plant target as a voluntary goal, described Wild Ones grants of up to $500 for nonprofits, and offered sample ordinances and educational materials.
Ron Jones, a member of Wild Ones’ Fox Valley Area Chapter and a consulting forester who worked 34 years with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, told the Oshkosh Sustainability Advisory Board on Oct. 7 that native plants are essential to sustaining urban wildlife.
"Human activities have caused the world's wildlife populations to plummet by more than two thirds in the last 50 years," Jones said, citing broad biodiversity declines and research showing native trees and plants host far more moths, butterflies and other insects than many nonnative species. He said that those insects — and especially caterpillars — are vital food for nesting birds: "Chickadees need an average of one caterpillar every three minutes to feed their young," Jones said, and may require "6,000 to 9,000 caterpillars" to raise fledglings.
Jones pointed to Doug Tallamy’s research and outreach materials, including the Homegrown National Park effort, and described a practical community target he heard from Tallamy: aiming for at least 70% native plants on a property or across a community planting program. He clarified that the 70% figure is a recommended target, not an existing ordinance in Appleton or Oshkosh, and said Appleton is testing "no-mow" turf plots on city property to evaluate low-mow alternatives.
Jones also described Wild Ones’ local support: the Fox Valley Area Chapter offers grants of up to $500 (primarily for nonprofits) to cover plant costs and has supported school projects such as a planting at Oshkosh North. He offered sample ordinances and handouts to the board and said the chapter sells copies of Doug Tallamy’s books and distributes a one-page handout on climate-resilient landscaping.
Board members asked about feasibility and enforcement, noting Oshkosh’s current native-plant ordinance language can be strict (requiring replacement with all-native plants) and may be hard for residents to meet. Jones recommended phased or multi-year approaches — "prairies take at least three years to get them going," he said — and suggested the city use demonstration sites and city property plantings to educate residents.
Jones also announced a Wild Ones conference, "Towards Harmony with Nature," scheduled for Feb. 8, 2025 at Ridgewood, and said he can share sample ordinance language and grant application information with the board.
The board requested the Wild Ones materials and discussed using demonstration plantings, plaques or signage to inform the public about test plots and native-plant areas. Several board members asked Jones to send grant and program links so staff can circulate them to city departments and community groups.
The board did not take formal action on policies during the presentation; staff and board members agreed to include native landscaping areas and ordinance drafting on future meeting agendas.
