Advocacy Alert: HB 2096 and HB 1998 Need Your Support
English ivy is rapidly overtaking trees in our natural areas and parks in northern Virginia. Other vines are just as problematic: Wintercreeper, Porcelain berry, Japanese wisteria, for starters!
HB 2096 (Del. Bulova) will be before the full Agriculture Committee TOMORROW January 25. The bill was changed slightly in the subcommittee (see hyperlink). The committee meets each Wednesday at 8 AM, and may consider the bill as early as tomorrow.
HB 1998 (Del. Krizek)has been referred to the House Agriculture subcommettee. The subcommittee meets every Wednesday at 4 PM and may consider the bill as soon as tomorrow.
Blue Ridge PRISM, Virginia Native Plant Society, Audubon Society of Northern Virginia support these bills. They are asking you to share how invasive plants impact you.
Background
The Virginia General Assembly opened its session on January 11, 2023. Two bills regarding invasive plant species were introduced into the House of Delegates, HB 2096 and HB 1998. This is significant because the problem of invasive plants and the importance of native plants is being recognized on a State-wide level by the legislature. Support for these bills is important to the basic health of our environment and cannot be understated!!
Both bills are listed on the site, below. Scroll down to HB 2096 (Bulova) and HB 2998 (Krizek). Comments for each will need to submitted separately. This link can be used twice to access them separately.
Below is an example of testimony from a UFA member on HB 1998:
Please support HB 1998. Native plants help support our endangered pollinators, promote ecological resiliency, and mitigate climate change. There is every reason to require state properties to utilize native plantings that are best adapted to our Virginia climate and soils, and there are no good reasons to allow landscaping with non-native plants.
Planting with natives will save the taxpayers money. Native plants need no fertilizers and, once established, need no artificial watering. They require very little maintenance. Furthermore, since they are grown locally they minimize transportation costs, thus reducing the impact of fossil fuels.
Native plants are grown here in Virginia by native plant nurseries; landscaping with these plants supports local small businesses and the Virginia economy.
Native plants feed our wild bird populations and support migrating birds on their journey south. Virginia is a major path on the Monarch butterfly eastern migration route, and native plants can help restore their endangered population.
Some popular non-native landscaping plants like Nandina have toxic berries that are poisoning our native birds. The Cedar waxwing population has plummeted from eating Nandina berries. When you landscape with native plants, there is no harm to our wildlife.
Landscaping with native plants is a critical part of creating a sustainable future for Virginia. Thank you for supporting this important legislation.