Uploaded November 2023 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Learn how to incorporate sustainable gardening elements of wildlife habitat across four seasons. This session will illustrate specific plants and features' unique relationship with iconic wildlife at risk of decline. Plant lists, design principles, and tips for beautiful and purposeful spaces will be shared.
Bonus: We will discuss how this obtains the LEED Innovation: certified wildlife habitat and ties into prerequisites such as No invasive species and LEED Credits like Rainwater Management, Heat Island effect and Water efficiency.
Continuing Education Units (CEUS) submitted 1 hour in*
• Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) & Accredited Professional
• Building Performance Institute (BPI) NonWholeHouse
• Submitted for American Institute of Architects - AIA (HSW)
• Certified Green Professional (NARI & CGP)
• Certified GreenHome Professional (CGHP) Pillar(s): Place
• AIBD
• State Architect / Builder License may be applicable
• Building Science Institute (BSI) Verifier
Lessons Learned
1. Understand the basic components of wildlife habitat and five requirements for being certified by the National Wildlife Federation and how it ties into LEED BD+C V4 Homes Innovation
2. Articulate the health benefits of habitat garden spaces on the watershed, carbon sequestration, and the overall ecosystem.
3. Access tools for nature-based solutions to support the welfare of plants and animals and provide green spaces that enhance safety within communities and how this applies LEED BD+C V4 Innovation
4. Know more about native keystone plants that have essential roles for wildlife and how that benefits LEED BD+C V4.1 Residential Innovation
Need CEUS?
Take the Quiz here:
greenhomeinstitute.thinkific.com/courses/sustainable-landscapes-that-benefit-wildlife-and-people
Speaker
Mary Phillips oversees the National Wildlife Federation’s Garden for Wildlife™ and Certified Wildlife Habitat®, the nation’s oldest and largest Backyard Habitat program. Under her leadership, the habitat program has experienced 60% growth and is documented by science to boost biodiversity. As an ambassador for native plants and the wildlife they support, she collaborates with leading entomologists, pollinator conservationists, federal agencies, the organization’s science team and researchers to develop critical programming for native plant gardeners, and to provide substantive content, such as, Keystone Plants for Butterflies and Bees, the Native Plant Finder™, Garden for Wildlife resources, and Spanish-language resources. Mary’s strategic leadership aligns the native plant and pollinator habitat mission across National Wildlife Federation’s, community initiatives, partner networks and external messaging. Mary’s significant work with the garden trade and hundreds of native plant growers informs NWF strategy and collaborations to ensure quality, chemical free, native seed and plant supply is available to meet habitat demand to address the wildlife crisis.
Prior to joining the National Wildlife Federation, Phillips led MDP Consulting, a national strategic management practice and created The Abundant Backyard, a sustainable gardening business. She holds a B.S. in Communications from Arizona State University, and is a certified Master Naturalist. Mary and her family enjoy hiking and exploring natural spaces around the Chesapeake Bay.
Subject matter expertise: Native plants, Habitat Impact on Pollinators, Songbirds, Butterflies, Sustainable Gardening How Tos and Trends, Biodiversity.
Learn how to incorporate sustainable gardening elements of wildlife habitat across four seasons. This session will illustrate specific plants and features' unique relationship with iconic wildlife at risk of decline. Plant lists, design principles, and tips for beautiful and purposeful spaces will be shared.
Bonus: We will discuss how this obtains the LEED Innovation: certified wildlife habitat and ties into prerequisites such as No invasive species and LEED Credits like Rainwater Management, Heat Island effect and Water efficiency.
Continuing Education Units (CEUS) submitted 1 hour in*
• Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) & Accredited Professional
• Building Performance Institute (BPI) NonWholeHouse
• Submitted for American Institute of Architects - AIA (HSW)
• Certified Green Professional (NARI & CGP)
• Certified GreenHome Professional (CGHP) Pillar(s): Place
• AIBD
• State Architect / Builder License may be applicable
• Building Science Institute (BSI) Verifier
Lessons Learned
1. Understand the basic components of wildlife habitat and five requirements for being certified by the National Wildlife Federation and how it ties into LEED BD+C V4 Homes Innovation
2. Articulate the health benefits of habitat garden spaces on the watershed, carbon sequestration, and the overall ecosystem.
3. Access tools for nature-based solutions to support the welfare of plants and animals and provide green spaces that enhance safety within communities and how this applies LEED BD+C V4 Innovation
4. Know more about native keystone plants that have essential roles for wildlife and how that benefits LEED BD+C V4.1 Residential Innovation
Need CEUS?
Take the Quiz here:
greenhomeinstitute.thinkific.com/courses/sustainable-landscapes-that-benefit-wildlife-and-people
Speaker
Mary Phillips oversees the National Wildlife Federation’s Garden for Wildlife™ and Certified Wildlife Habitat®, the nation’s oldest and largest Backyard Habitat program. Under her leadership, the habitat program has experienced 60% growth and is documented by science to boost biodiversity. As an ambassador for native plants and the wildlife they support, she collaborates with leading entomologists, pollinator conservationists, federal agencies, the organization’s science team and researchers to develop critical programming for native plant gardeners, and to provide substantive content, such as, Keystone Plants for Butterflies and Bees, the Native Plant Finder™, Garden for Wildlife resources, and Spanish-language resources. Mary’s strategic leadership aligns the native plant and pollinator habitat mission across National Wildlife Federation’s, community initiatives, partner networks and external messaging. Mary’s significant work with the garden trade and hundreds of native plant growers informs NWF strategy and collaborations to ensure quality, chemical free, native seed and plant supply is available to meet habitat demand to address the wildlife crisis.
Prior to joining the National Wildlife Federation, Phillips led MDP Consulting, a national strategic management practice and created The Abundant Backyard, a sustainable gardening business. She holds a B.S. in Communications from Arizona State University, and is a certified Master Naturalist. Mary and her family enjoy hiking and exploring natural spaces around the Chesapeake Bay.
Subject matter expertise: Native plants, Habitat Impact on Pollinators, Songbirds, Butterflies, Sustainable Gardening How Tos and Trends, Biodiversity.
