NEW ENGLAND REGION

MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR

THEME:"FUTURE CHOICES"

PROJECT:  SEEKING REGIONALLY NATIVE ALTERNATIVES TO INVASIVE PLANTS

The States of the New England Region:  Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont, are going to create informational publications to answer the question "If I remove a plant from my garden because it is potentially invasive, then what should I plant?"  Our Project will produce lists of regionally native plants as alternatives, giving gardeners an ecologically responsible choice.

This list/publication will be placed on each State's web site and the New England Region's website.  By doing this we hope to:

• Educate the public/state residents and gardeners
• Gain garden club members through awareness
• Distribute downloadable information to local civic groups, businesses and Libraries
• Promote civic education with the cooperation of the plant professionals
• Get this into the schools through our "Sprouts Program" Native Alternatives To Invasive Plants

Through this Project we will increase awareness of the problem of invasive plants so that "Future Choices" will be considered and this will promote environmental responsibility.

Remember: "We Pledge to protect and conserve the Natural Resources of the Planet Earth, and Promise to Promote Education so that we may become caretakers of our Air, Water, Forest, Land, and Wildlife."

In Partnership with President May's "Nuture the Earth, Plant Natives" our Project will be preserving the natural character of our New England Area and advancing the knowledge of Native Plants.

Sonia Cianchette ~ NER Director