It’s fun to walk outside and see the contrast between our urban built environment alongside the natural environment. If you are looking for it, it doesn’t take too long to notice it. Certainly, in more urban areas it can be more difficult to come across, but as more focus is put on the benefit of our natural ecosystems and trying to incorporate them into our urban environments, they will become more and more common.
Landscape restoration has become a bigger and bigger aspect to the green industry over recent years. What exactly is landscape restoration? Simply put, it is restoring the natural landscape to its native roots, pun intended. Here in Illinois those native landscapes or ecosystems primarily consist of prairie and Oak savannas. These are beautiful landscapes that will enhance the beauty and value of your property.
Why is it important to have native landscapes? There are numerous reasons for this, a few of which being less maintenance needed, reduction of resources having to be put in (i.e. water, insect/disease control, etc.), increased habitat and food for insects, birds, animals, and on and on. Trees and plants native to our area thrive in these landscapes and can help other organisms thrive.
As population on the planet continues to grow and more and more people move to urban areas, it is crucial that we manage our urban forest and landscapes to incorporate the native natural ecosystem. Benefits all the organisms in these ecosystems, as well as it’s benefits to stormwater management, air quality, mental health, and much more. Urban forests are the key to maintaining quality of life in our urban areas!
