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October 11, 2012

The Green Minute: Wildlife Certify Your Backyard

Courtesy of Pat Byington, The Green Register Editor

Over the past three years the National Wildlife Federation(NWF) has “wildlife” certified more than 154,000 backyards/gardens in the United States. Whether it is a 20-acre farm or a family’s balcony in a major metropolitan city, NWF has developed a simple checklist to help people diversify their backyards and support wildlife.

So how do you make your backyard more eco-friendly for wildlife?

Provide food sources: native plants, seeds, fruits, nuts, berries and nectar.

Provide water sources: a birdbath, pond, water garden, stream

Provide cover: thicket, rock pile, birdhouse

Examples of places to raise young: dense shrubs, vegetation, nesting box and ponds

Not only does NWF certify backyards and gardens, they also have programs that will certify habitats at school, work, even a place of worship.

Take a “green minute” and sign up for the certification program today at

It is just one small step you can take to help wildlife in your community.

Image Credit: arsija / Shutterstock

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