Native plant integration is a large part of climate change resilience, and environmental groups on the Island are trying to educate the public about what they can do to help.

Recently, the Martha’s Vineyard Commission, BiodiversityWorks, Polly Hill Arboretum and the Vineyard Conservation Society partnered to create and distribute educational resources for nurseries, landscapers and homeowners with the Plant Local project. These materials were derived from detailed surveys and research, according to Martha’s Vineyard Vision fellow Sakiko Isomichi, who worked on developing the resources. The guide offers ways to incorporate native plants into one’s own gardening practices.

“Our goal was to really offer some practical advice from exactly what these plants are, to talking about what some methods are when it comes to landscaping and gardening and planting,” she said.

Native plants such as eastern red cedars, beach plums and switchgrass predate any settlement in an area and are essential to their habitat because they aid the sustenance of other life on the Island, according to Polly Hill Arboretum executive director Tim Boland.

“[The Island] is a very interesting place to grow plants because of the tough conditions,” he said. “We have winds that carry salt into the air and into our soils, and so the plants that are here have adapted to these really tough conditions. Native plants are the best choice because they simply have been here forever.”

The loss of native plants is due largely to increased development and non-native plants that often take over.

“Development is increasing on the Island, and as a result habitats are fragmented, so the role of private property becomes really important in offering connectivity for wildlife habitat,” Ms. Isomichi said.

The Plant Local initiative is a part of the Climate Action Plan which details long-term goals to 2040 for how to increase climate resiliency. Resources are available at Donorama’s, Vineyard Gardens, Gayle Gardens, Jardin Mahoneys and Middletown. They are also available online.

According to both Mr. Boland and Ms. Isomichi, the lack of availability of native plants and a lack of education drives this initiative.

“We’re not really taught about gardening or landscaping to preserve and protect and enhance wildlife,” Mr. Boland said. “I see it as kind of a secondary consideration.”

For Ms. Isomichi, raising awareness is just the beginning.

“This is a foundation to be challenged sometimes and also to be refined,” she said. “It’s not a static document to be always adhered to, but more of a framework that we can land on so that we can have more discussions and improvements.”