Climate and Economic Impacts on the Plant Sector: Nursery & Landscape Perspective
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Transcript of Climate and Economic Impacts on the Plant Sector: Nursery & Landscape Perspective
Climate and Economic Impacts on the Plant Sector:
Nursery & Landscape PerspectiveWarren A. Quinn, Esq., CAEWarren A. Quinn, Esq., CAEVice President for OperationsVice President for Operations
American Nursery & Landscape AssociationAmerican Nursery & Landscape [email protected]@anla.org
March, 2012March, 2012
Approach
Horticulture in the US: Function to Horticulture in the US: Function to Aesthetics to InfrastructureAesthetics to Infrastructure
Consensus: Value of Plants in Designed Consensus: Value of Plants in Designed EcosystemsEcosystems
Challenges and Solutions: Challenges and Solutions: ““WhatWhat’’s Next?s Next?”” Provocative?Provocative?
Evolving use of plants Fruit trees and windbreaks/Major estatesFruit trees and windbreaks/Major estates Middle class homeownership: suburbiaMiddle class homeownership: suburbia Garden center retailingGarden center retailing DisneylandDisneyland ’’70s: Highway beautification70s: Highway beautification ’’80s: Commercial suburbia and office parks80s: Commercial suburbia and office parks ’’90s: Curb appeal, status90s: Curb appeal, status 2000s: Staycations, outdoor rooms, etc.2000s: Staycations, outdoor rooms, etc.
Increased Understanding of Benefits
Greening of the cities:Greening of the cities: Parks & greenbeltsParks & greenbelts Urban villagesUrban villages Green buildingsGreen buildings
Landscape restoration and rehabilitationLandscape restoration and rehabilitation Horticultural therapyHorticultural therapy
Now: Green Infrastructure Warming: Energy savings, reduced
evapotranspiration Storm severity/floods: Stormwater
management Drought: Water retention, re-use, green
roofs, engineered soil profiles CO2: Carbon sequestration Extinction: Managed biodiversity,
engineered wetlands
2002 Data – Nursery & Landscape Industry* Business and governmental unitsBusiness and governmental units Growing, distributing, installing, Growing, distributing, installing,
maintainingmaintaining Trees, plants, landscapes and related Trees, plants, landscapes and related
equipmentequipment $148 billion ($95 billion $148 billion ($95 billion ““value addedvalue added””)) 2 million jobs, $64 billion labor income2 million jobs, $64 billion labor income*2011- New York Restoration Project, Vibrant Cities & Urban Forests*2011- New York Restoration Project, Vibrant Cities & Urban Forests
Consensus and Challenge
Those engaged in the conversation are convinced of the value of green infrastructure
So . . . “We” don’t need more data . . . “We” don’t need to spend time/effort trying
to convince each other
Consensus and Challenge
Those not engaged are either:Not interestedThreatenedNot reachable
So . . . No amount of research or talking will
convince them!
Challenges (1) Entrenched officials and engineers (irrelevance =
unemployment Outdated building codes – Local! Researchers need to do research (solutions =
unemployment) Every organization wants to lead and get credit –
true collaboration is difficult
Challenges (2) Non-profit and Gov’t suspicion of for-profit
sector Plants are always the LAST consideration The Green Industry will respond to the
market – but will not lead it Grower: commodities versus bio-diversity Landscape: fragmented, limited influence LEED = minimum – not aspirational
Solutions (1) Improve plant education for landscape
architects and civil engineers Cradle to Cradle: Change goal from “less
bad” (LEED) to “sustainable sites” – even net benefits
Need POTUS dedicated to change through leadership – not regulation
Public gardens = public education = POWER
Solutions (2) Project timelines and specifications
Include “green machine” concepts earlySole source (like high-tech)Contract grow diverse species
Government continuing education (Local!) Sustainable = profitable (don’t rely on
government funding) No new “regulations” – Market-driven!
It’s a Movement
Plant more plants