Save Native Plants from Development Sites with Plant Rescues
1. Plant Rescues
One person can organize a rescue to save valuable
native plants from destruction due to development
Ed Travis, Austin NPSOT, July 19, 2014
2. Plant Rescues
What is a Plant Rescue?
Development puts native plants
at risk
Plant rescues can save valuable
native plants
A “For Sale” sign is essentially
an invitation to inspect the
property.
Individual circumstances
determine the ease of
collecting/saving these
plants
Site of future
CVS Pharmacy
As a rescue organizer you can make a big difference!
Start with a small rescue and build your experience.
3. Urban/Large, Rural/Small
Plant rescues vary from one situation to the next
The number of volunteers can vary from
one or two, to scores of participants
Larger rescue efforts take much more
planning to provide access, parking,
tools, transportation, and care of
rescued plants.
The agreement with the
landowner/developer may be informal
for small rescues, but larger rescues
should use liability waivers, etc. to
ensure protection for the rescuers as
well as for the landowner/developer.
Dale Bulla (NPSOT member and Habitat
Steward) and John Chenoweth (Endangered
Species Biologist, BCP) at an Austin, Texas Plant
Rescue in Summer 2013
Photo: Pat Bulla (used with permission)
4. Uses For Rescued Plants
Obvious benefits to wildlife
Food
Habitat
Places to
raise young
Photos: Ed Travis
(used with permission)
Capsicum annuum
Chasmanthium latifolium
Callicarpa americana
5. Uses For Rescued Plants
As restoration plants for parks or
other areas damaged by non-native
invasives.
As plant material for schools to use
in their outdoor education classes.
For use landscaping rescuers’
homes, gifts, etc.
For use as propagation stock for
native plant growers
Revegetation after invasive species
removal at Mayfield Park in Austin
Photos: Ed Travis (used with permission)
6. Value of Rescued Plants
One worker can save 50-75
small one to five gallon plants in
one day, worth $500-$1000.
Uncommon or even rare
species are sometimes rescued.
In one instance, the entire
population of the Cat Mountain
strain of the Bracted twistflower
was saved during an Austin plant
rescue.
Jenny Norman, NWF Habitat Steward,
collecting plants at an Austin, Texas Plant
Rescue in Summer 2013
Photo: Pat Bulla (used with permission)
7. Plant Rescue Partners
There are MANY potential partners for a plant rescue that you may contact
to increase your impact
Park support organizations like the Austin Parks Foundation
Non-profits that support environmental causes like Keep Austin Beautiful
Local NPSOT chapters
Organizations such as the NWF Habitat Stewards, the Audubon Society,
gardening clubs, homeowner’s organizations, the Sierra Club, Recreational Sports
clubs, fraternities and sororities can all provide volunteers.
The developer may be interested in portraying their project in a more
positive light, and may therefore be willing to provide logistic and even
limited financial support for a visible public acknowledgement from the
participating environmental groups.
Start small, build a set of reliable partners, and repeat the effort as often as
sites can be identified and approval obtained.
8. Important Rescue Issues
Access and parking, especially for larger rescues
Safety, including water and food for longer/harder rescue
efforts
Large rescue efforts need a lot of empty one and five gallon
pots, lots of trailer space, and facilities to care for plants
during rehabilitation.
If you make it fun and rewarding (take some plants home)
for volunteers you’ll have more participants.
9. Plant Rescue Checklist
(Not all items are relevant for small/informal/rural rescues.)
Identify legal owner of property
Owner involvement and approval
Establish overall bounds of rescue area
Clearly stake out and/or tape off entire boundary of
rescue area
Identify off-limits areas
Determine access limitations, if any, and quantity and location
for parking.
Method for on-site communication (cell phone, radio)
Announcement: Date and time (start and end), printable map
with directions to site
Pre-registration (if required, do NOT provide location until
individual is pre-registered)
Check-in forms, staff, table
Waiver of Liability (see attached example)
Detailed instructions sheet
Define scope of natives available (the opportunity)
Any restrictions on rescued plant disposition?
For personal use
For local city parks, etc.
For resale?
Equipment and materials (shovels, pails, water, etc.)
Safety issues, e.g. weather; possibility of cancellation
Volunteers identified
Check-in staff
Parking directors
Plant identification experts
Plant collection and removal area
Trucks and/or trailers for transportation
Publicity
NPSOT News, chapter websites, blogs, etc.
Local newspapers and other media
Partner Organization newsletters
