What is a Conservation Landscape?
A conservation landscape is a garden that improves water quality, promotes and preserves native species, and provides wildlife habitat. Conservation landscaping replaces hard surfaces or turf grass of a traditional lawn with native plants. There are many social and environmental benefits that result from installing a conservation landscape.
The eight essential elements below represent the practice of conservation landscaping:
1. Designed to benefit the environment and function efficiently and aesthetically for human use and well-being;
2. Uses locally native plants that are appropriate for site conditions;
3. Institutes a management plan for the removal of existing invasive plants and the prevention of future nonnative plant invasions;
4. Provides habitat for wildlife;
5. Promotes healthy air quality and minimizes air pollution;
6. Conserves and cleans water;
7. Promotes healthy soils;
8. Managed to conserve energy, reduce waste, and eliminates or minimizes the use of pesticides and fertilizers.