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2 <br /> 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 2023 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 4T" DAY OF APRIL, 2023. <br /> Jamezetta Bedford, Chair <br /> Orange County Board of Commissioners <br />