If there’s one thing most New Englanders agree on, it’s the beauty of our natural surroundings, from our lush forests and picturesque mountain ranges to our thriving wetlands and spectacular coastline. We are indeed blessed with the best of what nature can offer.

In keeping with the spirit of preserving the natural habitat, the Somerville City Council recently passed an ordinance, the first of its kind in the country, known as “The City of Somerville Native Planting Ordinance,” which demands that native plant species be planted on city-owned land.

According to the city, the ordinance recognizes that in New England, there are 258 plant species recognized as endangered, and it states that its intent is to protect and promote appropriate native vegetation.

The ordinance requires that 100% native plants be introduced in wetlands areas, plazas, and along the Community Path, among other places. Seventy-five percent of new trees planted in city parks must also be native plantings, while 50% of street trees must also be native plants.

The experts point out that native plants evolved to live in this ecosystem over millions of years. They provide food and shelter to butterflies, moths, birds, bats, bees, and many other fauna, that also evolved to survive here. Plants are the foundation of the food web, and without them and the insects that rely on them for their own survival, life as we know it would disappear.

This appears to not only be a good thing to be doing, but also a vital one.