Contact: Elenor Hodges, Executive Director
Telephone: (703) 228-6427
E-mail: elenor@arlingtonenvironment.org

Arlington, Virginia, January 26, 2005 A team of Arlingtonians is challenging Arlington’s neighborhoods to become more wildlife-friendly. The challenge, launched this month and continuing through September, is part of the Arlington Community Wildlife Habitat (ACWH) project, a three-year initiative to educate and assist Arlingtonians in the creation of wildlife habitats to benefit its people, plants and wildlife.

Through the Wildlife Habitat Neighborhood Challenge, the ACWH team hopes to reach its goal to become the third community in Virginia certified by the National Wildlife Federation, and the first certified County in the nation.

In addition to boasting rights of being the most wildlife-friendly neighborhood in Arlington, all civic associations that certify at least five new properties by September 30, 2005 will be recognized by the Arlington County Board. Prizes will also be awarded to the top three civic associations certifying the most properties.

All over the County, people have already discovered the fun and fascination of creating habitats that attract songbirds, butterflies and other wildlife. Creating wildlife habitat offers a host of potential environmental benefits including helping to increase the tree canopy and reducing water runoff and the spread of invasive plants; all the while making the County a more relaxing, beautiful and educational place to be.

And it’s easy - many yards already contain the four required elements (food, water, shelter and places to raise young) to become a certified habitat.

“I’ve enjoyed creating a wildlife habitat in my yard tremendously,” said Janine Finnell, one of the chairs of the ACWH team. “Not only is it a beautiful setting, but we have reduced our lawn mowing time from 90 to 20 minutes!”

Upon hearing about the positive impact to the community, County Board members Jay Fisette and Chris Zimmerman have certified their own yards. According to Jay Fisette, the certification process was very efficient. "I completed the certification form online. It was easy to do, and I'm pleased to be a part of this important community initiative benefiting local wildlife."

The ACWH project is sponsored by the Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources, the Virginia Cooperative Extension, Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment, and the Virginia Native Plant Society. The ACWH team has been working with the National Wildlife Federation on becoming a certified community since 2002 and hopes to complete the project in 2005. Project goals include educating the community about protecting and creating wildlife habitat and creating wildlife friendly sites in backyards, schoolyards, parks, places of worship and workplaces.

Many parks, schools, and private homes throughout the County have already been certified. The ACWH team is continuing to promote the creation of wildlife habitat in all types of settings but is focusing on recruiting more homeowners to complete the certification for their yards.

For more information on the Arlington Community Wildlife Habitat project and the Wildlife Habitat Neighborhood Challenge, please visit www.arlingtonenvironment.org.