EDUCATE family, friends, neighbors and community about the ecological value of native plants
ADVOCATE and COLLABORATE as a group to define managed native landscaping
INFLUENCE local and state leaders to change current ordinances, policies and laws in support of managed native landscaping
The Wild Ones St. Louis Advocacy Committee is here to support you in your efforts
Wild Ones St. Louis, Grow Native and Homegrown National Park are good places to start
To get help, to learn more and/or to get involved, contact the Advocacy Committee via the contact us form
COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS = HUGE DIFFERENCES!
Model Ordinances, Municipal Toolkits, Search Guide, Inspector Letter and Missouri Legislative Action
Municipalities Toolkit – Grow Native!
OneSTL – Solution: Native Landscaping
A great link to send to your contact person at City Hall, HOA or Neighborhood Association
OneSTL – Native Landscaping Ordinances
Wild Ones Sample Native Plant Ordinance (downloadable) *** coming soon!
What To Do When The “Weed Police” Knock On Your Door
Invasive Species Resolution draft
to be signed by your city mayor and sent to staff@stlmuni.org, Attention: Pat Kelly
Supports and encourages the control of invasive plant species on state public rights-of-way
26-01-26 Search Guide for Municipal Native Landscaping Regulations.docx (downloadable) *** coming soon!
26-03-18 Inspector letter template.docx (downloadable) *** coming soon!
Legislative Action Center – Conservation Federation of Missouri
Stay up-to-date on Missouri conservation legislation
Advocacy within Organizations
Wild Ones St. Louis
Provides general native landscaping support and provides modest grants to homeowners through the annual landscape challenge and to non-profit educational institutions
Bring Conservation Home program
This St. Louis Audubon Society program provides landscaping advice and advocacy that promotes healthy habits for birds, pollinators and people
BirdSafeSTL
Establishes long-term community relationships that support bird-safe practices and reduce bird fatalities in the St. Louis region in partnership with Lights Out Heartland
Missouri Prairie Foundation
Advocates for the permanent protection of prairie habitat
Xerces Society
Key program areas are: pollinator conservation, conserving endangered species and reduction in pesticide use and its impact
Monarch Watch
Monarch education, conservation and research
Homegrown National Park
Raises awareness and urgently inspires everyone to address the biodiversity crisis by adding native plants and removing invasive ones where we live, work and play. Explains how to navigate HOA rules
Open Space STL
Conserves, restores and sustains land, water and other natural resources
Municipality Certifications/Designations
Bird City Network
Your municipality applies for designation as a bird friendly community by meeting certain criteria to help our birds thrive and survive
Bee City USA
A certification program that recognizes, supports, and encourages pollinator conservation in cities, towns, townships, and counties
Funding Opportunities
The Bee and Butterfly Habitat Fund
Partners with landowners to plant high-quality habitat that benefits pollinators AND the environment
Rainscaping Cost-Share Program – Deer Creek Watershed Alliance
Small Grants Program – Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District
Provides small and large rainscaping grants for municipalities, homes, subdivisions or businesses.
Community Conservation Funding Opportunities | Missouri Department of Conservation
Advocacy for Businesses
St. Louis Green Business Challenge
A program of the Missouri Botanical Garden. It assists companies with integrating sustainable measures into kinds of daily operations common to every business. Several cities and businesses within the St. Louis region are participating.
Legal Support
Great Rivers Environmental Law Center
A Missouri-based nonprofit committed to safeguarding natural resources, advocating for clean energy and environmental justice and assisting communities in protecting their health through legal support.
Government-Related Organizations
Cool Cities STL
A coalition of elected officials in the St. Louis region working to address conservation, sustainability, the climate crisis and environmental justice. Suggest that your elected officials get involved.
East-West Gateway Council of Governments
A council of governments (COG) that provides a forum where local governments in the bi-state St. Louis region can coordinate and work together to address and solve problems that cross jurisdictional boundaries including those that are of concern to Wild Ones.
Municipal League of Metro St. Louis
Provides a network for the officials of St. Louis City and St. Louis County to advocate for county, state and federal legislation that helps municipalities better serve their residents. Recently it teamed with MDC to provide funding for the eradication of invasive species in municipal parks.
Data Driven Advocacy
The Growing Demand for Native Plants: What it means for your business
More St. Louis area landscape professionals are taking the lead in planting and maintaining native plant gardens.
The economics of native plants in residential landscape designs – ScienceDirect
