PlanningxChange 109: Doug Tallamy: return of the native - suburbs go natural
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In PX109, our interview guest is Professor Douglas (Doug) Tallamy, the author of many nature books and co - founder along with Michelle Alfandari of Homegrown National Park (https://homegrownnationalpark.org). Homegrown National Parks is a grassroots call - to - action to regenerate biodiversity and ecosystem function by planting native plants and creating new ecological networks. The group encourages homeowners and landowners to substitute native species for traditional garden approaches to encourage biodiversity. There are many resources to help people with the transition on their website.

Doug is an American entomologist, ecologist and conservationist. He is a professor in the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware. Doug advocates for home gardens and landscaping that bridge the gaps between parks and preserves in providing habitat for native species. He has spoken on the connections between plants and insects and how those relations are important to birds. He has called for smaller lawns.

He has written a number of books on nature including: ‘Nature’s Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation that starts in your yard.’ (Feb 2020), ‘Bringing Nature Home: How you can sustain wildlife with native plants.’ (April 2009), ‘The Nature of Oaks: The rich ecology of our most essential native trees’. (March 2021), with Rick Drake - ‘The Living Landscape: designing for beauty and biodiversity in the home garden’. (July 2014) and for children along with Sarah Thomson ‘Nature’s Best Hope (Young Readers Edition): How you can save the world in your own yard’. (April 2023)

Doug has authored 97 research publications and has taught insect-related courses for 40 years. Chief among his research goals is to better understand the many ways insects interact with plants and how such interactions determine the diversity of animal communities. His research has been ground breaking showing links between insects, plants and wildlife that had never before been envisaged. His book Bringing Nature Home, published by Timber Press in 2007, was awarded the 2008 Silver Medal by the Garden Writers’ Association. Among his awards are the Garden Club of America Margaret Douglas Medal for Conservation and the Tom Dodd, Jr. Award of Excellence, the 2018 AHS B. Y. Morrison Communication Award, and the 2019 Cynthia Westcott Scientific Writing Award.

There is an interview with Doug in the Smithsonian magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/meet-ecologist-who-wants-unleash-wild-backyard-180974372/

He appears on a number of YouTube talks and interviews.

In podcast extra / culture corner Doug talks about David Attenborough’s latest show, ‘Wild Isles’ about nature in Great Britain and Ireland. Jess recommends ‘Mirror Man’ by author Fiona Mcintosh (https://www.penguin.com.au/books/mirror-man-9781760894337). Pete mentions his ambitious plan to grow grass trees (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xanthorrhoea). Audio production by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 3 October 2023.