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2 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> NATIVE PLANT MONTH 2O25 <br /> A PROCLAMATION <br /> WHEREAS, numerous indigenous plants occur in Orange County and have evolved and adapted <br /> over many years in the County's ecosystems and habitats; and <br /> WHEREAS, native plants are vital to maintain and restore a healthy ecosystem which sustains <br /> our environment, including but not limited to: seed dispersal, pollination of crops and natural <br /> vegetation, prevention of flooding, erosion and drought, regulation of disease-carrying organisms, <br /> and moderation of weather extremes; and <br /> WHEREAS, native plants provide shelter, nectar, pollen and seeds to ensure that butterflies, <br /> insects, birds, amphibians and other wildlife thrive; and <br /> WHEREAS, it is estimated that there are more than 17,000 native plant species in the United <br /> States; and <br /> WHEREAS, North Carolina is home to more than 3,900 native plant species, including trees, <br /> shrubs, vines, grasses, and wildflowers, making it one of the most diverse states for native plants <br /> in the southeast; 969 of these have been designated as significantly rare, in decline and/or may <br /> be in danger of extinction; and 94 of the 969 imperiled plants have been found in Orange County; <br /> and <br /> WHEREAS, invasive species negatively contribute to habitat degradation and loss, extreme <br /> weather events, and the decline of native plants in the United States; and <br /> WHEREAS, native plants are essential components of resilient ecosystems and our natural <br /> heritage; <br /> NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Commissioners hereby <br /> designates April 2025 as "Native Plant Month" in Orange County and recognizes the benefits of <br /> native plants to the environment and economy of Orange County, the State of North Carolina and <br /> the United States. <br /> THIS THE 1st DAY OF APRIL, 2025. <br /> Jamezetta Bedford, Chair <br /> Orange County Board of Commissioners <br />