Microhabitat Program Resource Center
An open access resource for new and emerging microhabitat programs
Microhabitat Program
Resource Center
An open access resource for new and emerging microhabitat programs
We are constantly discovering tools, research and information that we think would be valuable to our network of microhabitat program managers, technicians, volunteers and participants. As the Resource Center develops, we will be organizing these finds into useful, searchable categories. For now, we highlight noteworthy resources here in this catch-all section. Check back often for new content!
“The cities stripping out concrete for earth and plants” This article features the growing movement of “depaving,” which involves removing concrete and asphalt in urban areas to restore soil and introduce greenery, thereby reducing flooding and enhancing biodiversity. Advocates argue that this practice, increasingly adopted by cities like Portland, Oregon and Leuven, Belgium is essential for climate adaptation and improving urban environments, and emphasize that it requires significant investment and community support to scale effectively.
“Native North American Bees Mostly Seem Untroubled By Invasive Honey Bees” In one of the largest studies of its kind, researchers from Penn State examined the downstream impact of managed honey bee populations on wild bees. They found that of the 33 bee genera studied, the ones at most risk from apiaries and land development were genera that are late season specialists, and small, ground nesting, season-long foragers. This suggests specific conservation strategies for microhabitats, such as creating more open ground for nesting and planting more late-flowering native plants.
“Underground seed banks hold promise for ecological restoration” Indigenous science emphasizes the importance of allowing natural regeneration to foster resilient ecosystems and restore the relationship between people and their landscapes, rather than relying solely on planting and intervention. Editorial note: While referring to large-scale restoration, this article is a good reminder for us small-scale rewilders to consider what native species may emerge from the seed bank where we remove invasive species. In some cases, it may be wise to see what comes up first before assuming everything has to be planted with natives.
“Native Landscapes Can Be Hard to Plant. But Help Is Here.” The article discusses the growing movement towards using native plants in landscaping, focusing on the organization Wild Ones, which promotes native landscapes through education and advocacy. It highlights the group’s popular free, downloadable garden designs for different U.S. regions, emphasizing ecological benefits like supporting wildlife. Landscape architect Preston Montague explains how native plantings can be more complex but beneficial, encouraging gardeners to embrace diverse and dense plantings while allowing natural processes to unfold, rather than adhering to strict, conventional gardening methods.
“New Research Highlights Effects of Gentrification on Urban Wildlife Populations Across U.S. Cities” New research published in PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA) reveals that gentrified urban areas have 13% more wildlife species than their ungentrified counterparts, limiting marginalized communities’ access to nature. The study, led by Lincoln Park Zoo’s Urban Wildlife Institute, analyzed data from 23 U.S. cities and found that while gentrification often introduces green spaces that attract diverse species, impervious surfaces like concrete still reduce overall wildlife diversity. The findings underscore the need for urban planning that prioritizes environmental equity to ensure all communities have access to nature.
“Bumble bees lose their sense of smell after heat waves” A new study published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B reveals that heat waves significantly impair bumble bees’ ability to smell, which may jeopardize their foraging efficiency and threaten the crops that depend on them for pollination. The findings indicate that extreme heat has a lasting negative impact on bees’ scent detection, raising concerns about the future of pollinator populations and the global food supply as climate change continues to intensify.
“I use ethnobotany to bring India’s medicinal plants into urban landscapes” This article profiles the work of Dr. Ganesh Babu, a professor at the University of Trans-Disciplinary Health Sciences and Technology in Bengaluru, India. He documents indigenous plants and traditional plant knowledge across the country, conducting botanical surveys in partnership with local communities and traditional-medicine doctors. They have developed propagation techniques for nearly 800 wild species, created a 20-acre ethnomedicinal garden, and initiated a horticulture practice to promote the use of medicinal plants in urban landscapes for the benefit of people and nature.
“It’s the bee’s needs: Study finds best plants for bee health, conservation” The article discusses a new study that examines the nutritional benefits of pollen from 57 North American plant species for bee health. Researchers identified several plants, including roses, clovers, red raspberry, tall buttercup, and Tara vine, which provide optimal protein-to-lipid ratios crucial for wild bee nutrition. They emphasize the importance of diverse pollen sources, as no single plant species offers all necessary nutrients. This research aims to guide conservation efforts by promoting the planting of specific flowers and reducing pesticide use to support bee populations facing significant threats worldwide. An editorial note: Something to keep in mind is that this research is only looking at bees, not ecosystem functions, other species or the conservation of native plants. Those of us who create microhabitats do think of those broader goals. So, we must consider how to be guided by such findings to achieve bee health while using native plants.
“Non-native plants and animals expanding ranges 100-times faster than native species, finds new research” This sobering new research quantifies the relative rates of migration of native vs non-native terrestrial plant and animal species. The data makes a compelling case for microhabitats and assisted migration.
“Biodiversity impacts Lyme disease” This older, but still valid report reveals just how important it is to preserve a diverse array of plants and wildlife to reduce the spread of infectious diseases. Research suggests that preserving biodiversity can help reduce the spread of Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses by limiting populations of animals like mice, which are highly effective hosts for ticks. However, while this connection is becoming clearer, implementing practical solutions based on biodiversity to combat Lyme disease remains a challenge, as public health policies rarely emphasize biodiversity conservation as a means to reduce disease transmission.
“The Perfect Green Lawn Is the American Dream. But It Shouldn’t Be.” This article in Outside Magazine is a useful advocacy piece, arguing against the traditional manicured lawn from a homeowner perspective. It highlights Homegrown National Park, the initiative of Professor Doug Tallamy, which encourages Americans to convert parts of their lawns into habitats for native plants and wildlife, aiming to turn 20 million acres into valuable ecological land. The article provides a simple four-step plan for rewilding and offers tips for those without yards to contribute through container gardening, community gardens, and volunteering at parks.
“How rewilding can help boost food security” As India rapidly urbanizes, foraging native plants is one way to enhance food security particularly by the urban poor who rely on traditional knowledge and practices. Rewilding and foraging can also build connections to nature and climate resilience, though urbanization and loss of green spaces pose many challenges.
“Museum researchers enlist hundreds of home gardeners in fight to save the iconic monarch butterfly” Chicago Tribune, Phys.org: The article highlights a 4-year long research project, which has recruited over 400 home gardeners throughout the Chicago, IL area to learn how to support the Eastern monarch butterfly population in small urban spaces. Conducted by researchers at the Field Museum, this project has involved increasing the amount of milkweed in yards and recruiting gardeners as community scientists to help gather relevant data.
“America Is Using Up Its Groundwater Like There’s No Tomorrow” This excellent report by the New York Times details a growing climate crisis in the United States: severe groundwater depletion. Groundwater, which supplies 90% of the nation’s water systems and sustains agriculture, is being over-extracted faster than it can replenish, threatening the economy, agriculture, and urban development. States like Kansas, Arizona, and New York are already facing consequences, with wells running dry and crops failing. Despite the urgency, groundwater management remains poorly regulated, creating a “climate trap” that worsens the depletion, with some regions on the verge of running out of water entirely. For microhabitat practitioners, this information reinforces the importance of renaturalization as a strategy relevant to water use, applicable far beyond CA and the Southwest alone.
“Farms that create habitat key to food security and biodiversity” Phys.org: New research throws light on the value of particular types of agricultural land for biodiversity. Comparing bird populations over time on three different landscape types—forests, diversified farms and intensive agriculture—in Costa Rica, the researchers findings suggest that diversified farms are key for biodiversity. The relationship is mutual, as the farms also need a diverse population of birds and insects to provide pollination, pest control and other ecosystem services to ensure food security.
“Degraded, but not defunct: Modified land still has wildlife value, study says.” Mongabay: This article highlights the development of a new framework for considering and preserving biodiversity during rapid changes in land use. Among other things, the framework argues that even “degraded” land often has some wildlife value. Preserving this biodiversity through realistic means in the dynamic, human-modified context should be a priority when the land is slated for conversion, say from rubber to palm oil plantations, or coffee plantations to livestock grazing fields.
“Reducing biodiversity loss: Gardens could be an Eden for vulnerable plants” A paper in Scientific Reports proposes conservation gardening (a new term to us)—planting threatened native species in urban and rural areas—as a method to address biodiversity loss in Germany, finding that 41% of endangered species could be suitable for this approach. The study also reveals that many of these species are commercially available and often better adapted to drier conditions, presenting a practical way to support biodiversity through gardening.
“How Landscape Conservation Partnerships Are Working to Address Climate Change” Land conservation, through protection, restoration, and stewardship, plays a crucial role in addressing climate change by mitigating emissions and aiding adaptation. This paper examines effective practices in collaborative conservation partnerships and offers recommendations to enhance the impact of landscape conservation and restoration in achieving climate goals.
“From debt to diversity: A journey of rewilding, carbon capture and hope Landscape” Mongabay: The Knepp Estate in West Sussex, England, has been transformed through rewilding from a debt-ridden farm into a thriving hub of biodiversity, attracting ecotourism and providing jobs. The estate’s restoration has led to increased wildlife, including the return of species like storks and butterflies, while also absorbing significant amounts of carbon dioxide, offering a model for climate change mitigation. The success of Knepp demonstrates the potential of rewilding to restore ecosystems, improve soil health, and provide viable investment opportunities for nature restoration.
“The Power of Parks to Promote Health: A Special Report:” This report from the Trust for Public Land synthesizes ample evidence for the health benefits—physical, mental, environmental and social—of parks. It cites data from numerous studies such as the Trust of Public Land’s annual ParkScore Index. It also finds that park departments across the country are partnering with hospital and health insurers in creative ways to leverage parks to improve health outcomes. The report notes that more can be done to make these spaces inclusive and accessible, so that different populations can avail of these benefits.
Growing Greener Podcast Episode: Beautiful and Field Tested Native Lawns: A conversation with Dan Jaffe Wilder, former the Senior Plant Propagator at the Native Plant Trust (Garden in the Woods) and Director of Applied Ecology at the Norcross Wildlife Foundation, on practical ways to convert/create lawns using native plants.
