A Call for Conservation: Why and How We All Must Take Action to Secure a Sustainable Future

Climate change affects everything: our water, our food, the air we breathe. This week, leaders from business, government and society are meeting in New York City as part of Climate Week NYC to discuss what we as a country must do to reduce climate change, and preserve and empower our environment.

The ideas and commitments that emerge throughout Climate Week will shape the global dialogue taking place in Paris later this fall, during which there is hope to reach an international agreement on how to more positively inhabit our planet. No matter the specifics, a commitment at all levels - globally, nationally and even from individuals like you and me - is needed to ensure conversations yield actions and meaningful results.

For more than 30 years I have studied and worked with plants, and I am advocating that they be a key component of both domestic and global conservation policies. Even without my years of experience, it's easy to understand why plants are a critical piece of the climate puzzle.

Quite simply, we can't live without plants. Food, medicine, fiber, and fuel are just a few of the essentials plants provide. They also improve the quality of our lives. From the saguaro cacti of the Sonoran Desert, to the twisted pine trees of Poland's Crooked Forest, and the grass trees dotting the Australian bushland, plants are the heart of native landscapes that provide not only beauty, but also a sense of place.

This natural heritage is important for recreation, reflection, and spiritual enrichment. However, the ongoing impact of climate change is putting plant species at risk. Already, many are getting "left behind," as they are unable to adjust their distribution fast enough to overcome the changing environment. But, plants are not optional. To avoid their destruction, they must be part of our climate conversation.

Whether human inflicted or natural disaster, when plant communities are destroyed, it can have devastating effects on the environment. It is essential to initiate restoration projects and begin replanting native plant seeds that provide endless benefits, including flood and erosion control, air and water purification, and carbon storage, among others. To meet these needs, the U.S. Department of the Interior recently released the "National Seed Strategy for Rehabilitation and Restoration." It's a simple vision that will have critical impact: use the right seed in the right place at the right time to protect and restore our native habitats.

Although the Strategy represents a much-needed step to improve plant restoration on both public and private lands, we must now take it from idea to action - engaging a nationwide network of seed collectors and restoration ecologists to make this vision a reality.

Similarly, we must take our broader climate conversations from word to action by engaging leaders at the national and international levels, and with help from citizen scientists like you. One of the coolest aspects of plants is that they're accessible to everyone, and it's easy for nearly anyone to make a difference. There are many ways you can help, for example, by:

• Monitoring plants and recording your findings. Project BudBurst is a national campaign co-managed by Chicago Botanic Garden and the National Ecological Observatory Network. People of all ages and abilities can get involved with the program by documenting their observations of the leafing, flowering, and fruiting phases of plants throughout all four seasons. Participants then share their findings in a public record that is accessible to scientists and educators who use the data to learn more about how plants respond to climate changes.

• Volunteering to help plan and restore native habitats. The United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service offers many initiatives where volunteers help agency personnel plan and accomplish restoration projects and other important types of conservation work.

Open, forward thinking, such as the examples I've outlined here, are exactly the types of ideas we need to continue to embrace in the U.S. and at a global level. If we can drive policy and action that encourage national and international collaboration, engages citizen scientists, and puts the focus on Mother Nature's natural defenses, such as plants, we can help make a greener and cleaner future a reality.