Climate Resilience
Nature-based Solutions for Managing Invasive Plants/Growing Native Plants
Municipal Officials & Professionals
Backyard & Neighborhoods
Land Managers or Stewards
Youth, Parents & Teachers
Our changing climate is making it possible for non-native plant species to survive and thrive in our region. A plant is considered invasive when it is not native to the area and it is likely to cause damaging disruption to native ecosystems by outcompeting native species and spreading aggressively. Supporting our native plant communities is vital as they provide food and shelter to our native wildlife. Our soils play an important role too as they are the foundation for these ecosystems– healthy soils lead to healthy plants and thriving wildlife. The ideas presented here can be scaled for the size of your yard or outdoor space. Efforts to manage invasive plants and plant native species are also great neighborhood and community efforts, as invasives spread from property to property. Managing invasives and planting native species will support greater biodiversity in our communities.
Organizations stewarding medium to large properties may wish to learn more about the Nashua Rivers Wild & Scenic Regional Invasives Management Collaborative.
Nature-based Solution Idea 1:
Remove Invasive Plants
- Learn to identify locally present invasive plant species
- Monitor your yard and neighborhood for invasive plants
- Learn which native plants will provide food and shelter for pollinators and wildlife
- Remove invasives in your yard
- Participate in community organized invasive removal days
Nature-based Solution Idea 2:
Plant Native Flowers, Shrubs, and Trees
- Learn which native plants will grow well in your yard conditions
- Learn which native plants will provide food and shelter for pollinators and wildlife
- Learn which native plants are more drought tolerant
- Plan a garden for your yard or neighborhood
- Plan a potted native plant garden for your porch or stoop
Nature-based Solution Idea 3:
Avoid Soil Disturbance
- Prevent large areas of soil disturbance, when possible
- Plant appropriate native species to stabilize areas disturbed by erosion or construction
- Restore degraded soils