Reference Publications

More Towns Register Community Habitat Plans With NWF - Backyard Wildlife Habitat - Brief Article

National Wildlife, Oct-Nov, 1999

It's an idea that's catching on around the country: Entire communities are banding together to preserve space for wildlife in private yards and common areas.

Three towns have registered their habitat plans with NWF, signifying their goal of being among the nation's first certified Community Wildlife Habitat sites. So far the only community project certified by NWF is Alpine, California, a town of 13,000 that has more than 100 certified Backyard Wildlife Habitat sites and a host of other certified projects at schools and businesses.

The three other towns on their way to certification include:

* Greater Zionsville, Indiana, a growing suburb of Indianapolis, which has launched a Habitat CPR project to create, preserve and restore as much green space as possible.

* Reston, Virginia, a planned community outside Washington, D.C., that aims to certify Backyard Wildlife Habitat sites at 100 single family homes, 12 clusters, three apartment buildings or condominiums, three schools or day-care centers and seven workplaces, churches or other community locations.

* Canastota, New York, a rural upstate community that is rallying landowners to protect wetlands on their property and planning to build a nature education center.

For information on what your town can do, write Community Wildlife Habitat Project, NWF, 8925 Leesburg Pike, Vienna, Virginia 22184 or check NWF's web site at www.nwf.org/habitats.>