Committee ReportsI have been to two lectures in the last few weeks where the biologists have strongly stated that we are living in an exceptionally biodiverse hotspot, and how important the Southern Appalachians, are to the global ecosystem!
In fact, where we are living is termed a Biodiverse Superhighway: meaning a climate resilient migratory corridor which connects continuous forest ridges, and allows wide-ranging plantlife, wildlife and migratory birds to shift ranges and adapt to warming temperatures. And, as part of one of the largest intact temperate forest systems in the world, the Southern Appalachian corridor is a massive global carbon sink. We all know how important Birds, bees, butterflies and insects are to the ecosystem. And We all know planting natives brings them back. So I thought in this little conservation report it would be worthwhile to encourage each of us to re examine what natives we have growing in our gardens/and yards and maybe add to their variety and quantity. The other day I asked Sonya Carpenter what the most important natives are for us, She said right off the top- solidago/goldenrod. I looked it up and found that 102 species of butterflies and moths use this plant. Also on her list is strawberry, Helianthus/a sunflower, Joe-Pye and Asters. You may already know about this, but she told me about a website: nativeplantfinder.nfw.org. You put in your zip code and it gives you lists by flowers, grasses, trees and shrubs, and the names of the pollinators they attract. Our native oak tree is the most important tree. I didn’t know that the oak can support the caterpillars of over 500 species of butterflies and moths, and that they are a critical food source for over 96% of songbirds. In fact a pair of Carolina chickadees requires 6,000-9,000 caterpillars to successfully raise just one brood of young! August 2026 Conservation Committee Report by Melanie Mauldin
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See Some Examples
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