by Joseph Morris
I have a riddle for you. It’s probably not as good as one of Bruce’s knock-knock jokes… What do Montreal Canada and Columbia Maryland have in common? Some might say not much but they were both in the news about biodiversity and biodiversity loss prevention. Montreal was the home of the Convention on Biological Diversity (or biodiversity). It’s been estimated that over a million species are facing extinction from loss of habitat and pollution. This is an extermination that some have compared to the mass extinction of dinosaurs 65 million years ago. Some 130 countries have signed an agreement called the 30×30 agreement to preserve 30% of Earth’s land and oceans. By 2030. This represents an increase from 17% of the land and 8% of the oceans at present. The US was not a signatory of the agreement because it couldn’t make it through the Senate. President Biden has signed an executive order to place 30% of the US’s land and waters under protection but without legislative support it will be in a precarious situation.
So, what does this have to do with Columbia, Maryland? Columbia is a planned community near Baltimore built in the 1970s west of Baltimore. (Confession: I lived there for three years starting in 1978). It defines the term planned community. In Columbia, the Home Owners Association (HOA) reigns supreme. Everything is regulated. Housing colors, additions, landscaping, and particularly front lawns. Homeowners Janet and Jeff Crouch believe that lawns are not biodiversity friendly and planted additional plants such as scarlet bee balm that attracts hummingbirds and milkweed that attracts monarch butterflies. The idea of wildlife gardens and “naturescape” front yards Shown on right) is spreading according to the Wildlife Federation. Naturescape yards promote diversity with native and pollinator-friendly plants and typically don’t require pesticides, or at least a much smaller amount. They can also use much less water. Lawns tend to have excessive runoff with fertilizer and weed killer that can pollute nearby wetlands, streams, rivers, etc., and use excessive amounts of water.
One of the Crouches’ neighbors complained and the HOA gave them ten days to tear up their garden and replace it with a lawn. The Couches fought back and hired a lawyer while contacting every environmental organization they could think of. A short while later they were contacted by a Maryland State Representative who asked if their case could be used as the basis for a new law limiting the power of HOAs over eco-friendly front yards. The law was passed and took effect in October 2021.
So, in my opinion, while our Congress can’t get its act together to do something about biodiversity, those of us who have yards can take a proactive step by planting native and pollinator-friendly plants that will attract birds, bees, and butterflies. Bird feeders are another idea. It’s something we have control over and can do. Of course, you need to do this within the rules of your HOA. But even planting a few pollinator-friendly plants will help.