Orange County NC Website
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> NATIVE PLANT MONTH <br /> PROCLAMATION <br /> WHEREAS , native plants are indigenous species that have evolved and occur naturally <br /> in a particular region , ecosystem , and habitat ; and <br /> WHEREAS , native plants are vital for maintaining and restoring the healthy ecosystem <br /> needed to sustain our environment , including but not limited to seed dispersal ; pollination <br /> of crops and natural vegetation ; prevention of flooding , drought , and erosion ; regulation <br /> of disease - carrying organisms ; and moderation of weather extremes ; and <br /> WHEREAS , native plants provide shelter as well as nectar , pollen , and seeds that serve <br /> as food for native butterflies , insects , birds , amphibians and other wildlife in ways that <br /> non - native plants cannot ; and <br /> WHEREAS , there are more than 17 , 000 native plant species in the United States , which <br /> include trees , shrubs , vines , grasses , and wildflowers ; and <br /> WHEREAS , North Carolina is home to more than 3 , 900 native plant species , including <br /> trees , shrubs , vines , grasses , and wildflowers , making it one of the most diverse states <br /> for native plants in the Southeast ; <br /> WHEREAS , 969 of the native plant species in North Carolina have been designated as <br /> significantly rare and /or in decline and may be in danger of extinction ; and <br /> WHEREAS , 94 of those 969 imperiled plants have been found in Orange County ; and <br /> WHEREAS , habitat loss and degradation , extreme weather events , and invasive species <br /> have contributed to the decline of native plants in the United States ; and <br /> WHEREAS , native plants are essential components of resilient ecosystems and our <br /> natural heritage ; <br /> NOW , THEREFORE , BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of <br /> Commissioners hereby designates April 2022 as " Native Plant Month " in Orange County , <br /> and recognizes the benefits of native plants to the environment and economy of Orange <br /> County , the state of North Carolina , and the United States . <br /> THIS THE 5T " DAY OF APRIL , 2022 . <br /> AV <br /> �" h Renee Price , Chair <br /> Orange County Board of Commissioners <br /> 17 <br /> �z <br /> c art (gat <br />