The ‘National Park’ That Stretches From Coast to Coast

On Doug Tallamy's 10-acre property in rural Pennsylvania, nature is thriving. Wood thrushes now nest in shrubs that were once cut for hay. Luna moths, which had become rare, are now abundant.

Tallamy has documented over 1,380 species of moths and 62 breeding bird species on his land. He enjoys hearing the birds and seeing gray tree frogs on his windowsill.

When Tallamy and his wife bought their 300-year-old farm in 2000, it looked green. However, it was overrun by invasive plants like Japanese stiltgrass. These plants supported few pollinators. Tallamy recalls there were "no caterpillars!"

This observation changed him from a researcher into an advocate for native plants. He simply removed invasive species and planted native ones. He estimates he spent about $100 over 26 years, mostly on seeds.

Homegrown National Park

For over two decades, Tallamy, an entomologist at the University of Delaware, has argued that solving the biodiversity crisis requires more than just national parks. He believes it will be decided in millions of backyards, schoolyards, corporate campuses, and apartment balconies.

He points out that nearly 80% of land east of the Mississippi is privately owned. About 135 million acres are residential landscapes. This means private property owners are key to conservation. Tallamy says if 10% to 20% of landowners planted native plants, it would create a habitat larger than 10 Yellowstones.

National parks are important, but many species migrate beyond their borders. They need food and habitat along the way to survive. Tallamy notes that areas between protected lands are often "no man's land" for most creatures. He believes connecting these protected areas with habitat on private land is the solution.

This idea led him to create Homegrown National Park. This nonprofit encourages people to replace traditional lawns with native habitats. Participants can register their efforts on a nationwide biodiversity map.

The initiative now has over 52,000 registered participants. They manage more than 187,000 acres, and these numbers are growing quickly. Tallamy emphasizes that natural systems provide essential life support, from oxygen to managing watersheds and minimizing extreme weather.

Tallamy urges every American to help nature where they can. He writes in his book, How Can I Help? Saving Nature with Your Yard, that everything we do in our yards affects the larger ecosystem. He believes everyone needs healthy ecosystems, so everyone is responsible for contributing to their care.

He highlights the urgency, noting the loss of three billion breeding birds and 22% fewer butterflies since 2000. He says people are upset by this decline, even if they don't know much about biology.

Taking Action

Tallamy offers a simple message: "There are things you can do. You can see the results." He says this empowers people to be part of the solution. He adds that the reward is immediate; planting an oak tree can show a difference the next day.

Homegrown National Park's website and Tallamy's books offer practical advice. This includes planting keystone species, shrinking lawns, and leaving leaves for pollinators. Even those without yards can help. Container gardening on balconies can provide resources for native bees and migrating monarchs.

For those who prefer not to handle plants, Tallamy suggests changing outdoor white light bulbs to amber ones. This helps stop killing moths at night. He says this simple change can make a huge difference.

Whether this grassroots movement can grow fast enough is still unknown. However, as governments struggle with biodiversity loss, Tallamy is focused on changing culture. He believes that what happens on private property must be counted, which is what the biodiversity map aims to do.

Tallamy's books, which have sold over half a million copies, share an optimistic view. He writes that a cultural shift from an adversarial to a collaborative relationship with nature is beginning. This gives him hope for the future of biodiversity and humanity.

The initiative aims to reach people not typically interested in ecosystem health. Tallamy tours the country, giving speeches to motivate those who don't realize their role in earth stewardship.

In some parts of the Deep South, traditional landscaping with tidy lawns is still preferred. Tallamy acknowledges that this culture can be resistant to rewilding.

Tallamy is open about the limits of his approach. Even converting every targeted lawn would be less than 1% of U.S. land. Critics argue this alone cannot solve biodiversity loss. Tallamy agrees, stating that Homegrown National Park won't solve the crisis on its own. However, he believes getting everyone involved and changing the culture will help significantly.

Some have questioned his focus on native plants, suggesting some species adapt to changing habitats. But Tallamy's research shows native plants are vital for many species' survival.

He argues that the true measure of success is whether ecological thinking becomes mainstream. He sees signs of this shift. Demand for native plants now exceeds supply in many regions. Conservation landscaping is starting to increase property values. Native plant professionals are booked months in advance.

Despite this progress, Tallamy admits the movement is still small compared to the challenge. Even with two million annual website visitors, he notes this is a small number compared to the 340 million people in the U.S. who need to be reached.

Ultimately, Tallamy wants people to stop thinking of conservation as something only professionals do elsewhere. He emphasizes that people have agency over their piece of the Earth, and that it matters.