| R 252 |
| 2025 -- H 6295 Enacted 05/01/2025 |
| H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N |
| DESIGNATING MAY OF 2025 AS “RHODE ISLAND NATIVE PLANT MONTH” |
Introduced By: Representatives McGaw, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Cotter, Craven, Boylan, Ajello, Tanzi, Read, and Shallcross Smith |
| Date Introduced: May 01, 2025 |
| WHEREAS, Native plants support local ecosystems, providing habitat and food for |
| wildlife, help maintain soil and water quality and are crucial for a balanced and sustainable |
| environment; and |
| WHEREAS, Rhode Island is home to more than 1300 native plant species, which include |
| trees, shrubs, vines, grasses, and wildflowers; and |
| WHEREAS, Rhode Island's native plant species provide food, such as nectar, pollen, |
| seeds, and foliage, and prime habitat, including essential shelter and nesting sites, for various |
| types of wildlife in the State in ways that non-native plants cannot, making the expanded |
| cultivation of native plants in Rhode Island a viable and effective means by which the State can |
| both preserve its existing wildlife habitats and populations and effectively offset and mitigate any |
| prior losses in wildlife habitat or populations that have occurred in the State as a result of |
| development; and |
| WHEREAS, Native plants are well-adapted to Rhode Island's soils, wetlands, |
| temperatures, precipitation, and environmental conditions; and, consequently, are the best at |
| conserving and protecting our environment against flooding and erosion while maintaining and |
| restoring the State's air, water, and soil quality; and |
| WHEREAS, Native plants are vital to Rhode Island's biodiversity and enable the State's |
| wildlife to prosper; and |
| WHEREAS, Native plants incorporated into the landscaping in our yards and |
| communities help increase the amount of habitat available to our native wildlife and are necessary |
| for biodiversity and a healthy ecosystem, and require far fewer fertilizers, soil amendments, or |
| pesticides, and use less water than conventional landscapes; and |
| WHEREAS, On May 3, 2023, the 118th Congress passed Senate Resolution 152, |
| declaring May as "National Native Plant Month”; and |
| WHEREAS, According to U.S. Senate Resolution 152, "native plants are indigenous |
| species that have evolved and occur naturally in a particular region, ecosystem, and habitat” and |
| “are essential components of resilient ecosystems and the natural heritage of the United States"; |
| and |
| WHEREAS, According to Rhode Island's Native Plant Society, native plants preserve our |
| rich biological heritage; and provide shelter, as well as nectar, pollen, and seeds that serve as food |
| for native butterflies, insects, birds, and other wildlife in ways that non-native plants cannot |
| provide; provide diversity in form, texture, and color to fit any landscape style and are hardy and |
| easy to grow once established; and |
| WHEREAS, It is important to recognize the value of Rhode Island's native plants and |
| encourage public awareness of the many benefits they provide to Rhode Island's economy, to |
| pollinators, and the health of Rhode Island's environment; now, therefore be it |
| RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby |
| designates May of 2025 as "Rhode Island Native Plant Month" in order to preserve the heritage |
| and the importance of native plants for clean air, water, and soil stability in the State of Rhode |
| Island; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That this House hereby respectfully requests the Rhode Island Department |
| of Environmental Management (DEM) to urge all citizens to educate themselves about the |
| importance and history of Rhode Island's native plants and the many benefits they provide to |
| pollinators, and to preserve Rhode Island's biological heritage in aiding in the prevention of |
| flooding and erosion and maintaining and preserving the health of Rhode Island's economy and |
| environment; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to |
| transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Terrence Gray, Director of the Rhode Island |
| Department of Environmental Management. |
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| LC002331 |
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