Achieving 30x30: Percentages Matter, We’re All in This Together, and What You Do to Help Counts Big-time

Green space in the Chicago region (credit:  Chicago Wilderness Alliance ) Did you know that back in December, one of the most important planetary environmental agreements in history got approved in Montreal? This would be the “Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework” (GBF), approved by the 15th Conference of Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, which clearly states the goal of protecting, conserving, and restoring 30% of Earth’s lands and waters by 2030. Not only was another opening created for the concept that non-human species have the right to exist and live their lives according to their kind in appropriate habitats, but indigenous peoples were included and given their due as primary keepers of land. If countries actually follow through on commitments (one of the biggest ifs) there might be a chance that biodiversity could start recovering, and we might have a chance of getting to half-earth by 2050. By providing enough habitat for 80% of species on earth, t

A Backyard Plant Species Count


Permaculture biodiversity
How many plant species live in your backyard? How many are native? How many provide food for you or for birds, pollinators, and other non-human persons—or for everyone? I am not a trained scientist, but I sometimes hang out with biologists, and one thing they like to do is count things, especially living things. One reason is to assess the health of a place, on the principle that the more biodiversity, the better. I’m no permaculturalist, either—no official certificate—though I have polyculture beds and am deeply influenced by the design philosophy and methods. The basic idea is to work with natural systems and imitate their function when establishing a food garden. Again, the more biodiversity, the better.

However, it had never occurred to me to do a backyard species count until I read Eric Toensmeier’s Paradise Lot, an ebullient book about urban permaculture so full of enthusiasm that if you are fortunate enough to have a backyard, you will immediately want to try out some of what he’s doing. He writes about biodiversity and the benefits of a garden full of diverse species and mentions at one point that when people have asked how many species he and his gardening partner Jonathan Bates have, he doesn’t know. Then when he does a count, he comes up with something like 185 different species. More or less, in a small backyard roughly analogous to mine in size.

Inspired by this, I went on a field trip out back to do my own species survey. I knew I had “lots of species” (a term of art), and an actual count came up with between 100 and 120. More or less. More if one counts the seeds I’ve just planted, and the prairie plants I know are there, but haven’t quite emerged from their torpor, less if the seeds don’t take, or the prairie plants have indeed been winter killed. Of the total, half are native. The half that aren’t include weeds that I keep at more or less manageable levels but have never quite eliminated. Every plant provides food and/or shelter for someone. Perhaps a quarter provide food for the human residents. When one counts also affects the totals. Spring ephemerals go dormant. There are, at the moment, hundreds of cotyledons that haven’t declared their allegiance in the form of a second set of leaves (though one can make an educated guess in most cases). You always miss something. Besides time, this exercise depends on memory, and like all things botanical, the result is more approximate than definite.

More than 100 separate species, then. Not too bad, considering, for example, the fact that most of the backyards in my neighborhood might have only ten or twenty species, and all non-native, at that. These are, in my opinion, what might be called ecological deserts, analogous to those urban neighborhoods termed food deserts. Many of the species in these yards may be “ornamental,” and the yards themselves neat and green, but they are not biologically beautiful or elegant, since by definition these terms require good ecological functioning and an ability to help support other living species.

The numbers tell other stories, too. In general, I prefer native species. That half the species are non-native is because when I started to add natives, I did so gradually, as I had funds, and will not pull out (that is, kill) a non-native that is good looking, useful, and non-invasive. That half the species are still non-native also reflects that many things I like to eat, such as parsley, basil, chard, radishes, lettuce, and tomatoes came from elsewhere. The numbers change over time: new species volunteer, I add new plants and regretfully (mostly) remove others. I can’t say I was sorry when I finally vanquished the bishop’s goutweed I inherited from the previous owner. This year I removed a sweet autumn clematis that was more than adequately demonstrating its invasive tendencies. Also this year I’m putting in some American currants and more raspberries. Next spring, after I’ve learned more about the subject, I plan to put a dwarf espalier fruit tree on the fence where the clematis was.

What should the balance be among plant species? It’s hard to know. There are six species of berries. Pollinators love the flowers. Two kinds of berries are only for birds and squirrels. We more or less share the other four. I will put in more prairie plants and may put in more native berries or try out some different non-native vegetables and herbs. I cannot imagine ever reducing the number voluntarily. Perhaps there should be some sort of species count competition among backyard gardeners, with an emphasis on native plants and ecological health, and including local and regional championships. Perhaps that would help people take advantage of the wonderful opportunities inherent in their backyards. What I know is, I feel sure I’ll catch up with Eric Toensmeier soon. Maybe. More or less.

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Comments

Unknown said…
Now we should all go count. Love it that you and other creatures all share whatever's there.
The book looks really interesting, too.
Thanks for the charming discussion.
Hi Margaret, thanks for stopping by. Yes, I highly recommend the book--it's worth reading even if you don't have much space to garden.
Jason said…
I have done a count a couple of times but never kept the lists. I think my garden is much like yours, about 100+ species, at least half native. That book sounds very interesting - love the title.
Hi Jason,
I guess it depends on how methodical you are, and what your purpose is. My list may or may not get kept; probably it will be stuck in a folder somewhere. Paradise Lot is very good--it gives an enlightening, creative approach to food gardening.
Teresa Marie said…
This year I started counting and dating the wildflowers blooming around me. I need to pull together into a blog. That simple act does draw attention to new and different items. Great fun.
will check out this read.
thanks
Hi Teresa Marie,
I agree, one does pay closer attention that way. Date-of-bloom lists are very useful, as well, for historical and phenological purposes.
Anonymous said…
Adrian, What a neat idea. Makes me want to count my species as soon as I get a chance. -Jean
Hi Jean,
Yes, sometimes even if you've planned a garden meticulously, after a few years you don't always know what you really have. Sort of like those items at the back of the pantry?
Gaia Gardener: said…
This post made me smile. Several months ago, I started keeping a database of plants (and insects, actually) for our 10 acres. The desire to "list" and keep track of what I'm finding and what I'm adding is/was overwhelming!

We've lived here for about 7 1/2 years, and I'm trying to restore what was essentially horribly overgrazed pasture to some semblance of ecological functioning. Originally it was all tallgrass prairie. (We're in south central Kansas.)
Hi Gaia,
I can imagine keeping track of ten acres could be daunting. I hope the restoration is going well.
Anonymous said…
Lovely words and images here. But one layer seems missing, and this was remarked upon repeatedly when I attended a session yesterday of the Radical Mycology tour: the mycorrhizal layer. The session was titled "Myco-permaculture." It seems the fellow has a point.
Hi Pete, thanks for stopping by. Oh, yes, mycorrhiza. Very important, indeed. I'm not sure how I could count what's there--I know they're there symbiotically bonding with the roots because, for example, my oak trees are growing splendidly. (Same for all the thousands of little critters that live in the soil.)

Now if you're talking mushrooms...yeah, I should not have neglected them, starting with the stinkhorns that show up after it rains.