COLORADONATIVE PLANT

MASTER PROGRAM®

© Colorado State University Extension 2010.

Program Mission• Educate public

• Foster –stewardship–sustainable landscapes –weed management

Sustainable Landscaping• up to 60% reduction

in water use

• less maintenance, pesticide use

• food and shelter for native wildlife

Noxious Weeds

• Inedible/poisonous to livestock & native wildlife

• $10 million+ in lost CO land productivity

•Infested 1 million+ CO acres

NPM Courses• curriculum-

based

• outdoors

• Flora of CO

by Weber and Wittmann

• three 4-hour sessions

NPM Course Sessions• 1: plant identification, families, scientific names,

key characteristics

• 2: invasive weeds, ecological relationships

• 3: sustainable landscaping, human uses

NPM Special Classes

• classroom

or outdoors

• year-round

• specialty topics – basic botany, landscaping, weed management etc.

NPM Instructors

• Native Plant Masters

• Local experts, including CONPS members

• Extension agents

Who can take courses:

• Anyone can take NPM courses or special classes

• Reduced fees for volunteers who: educate others, report contacts

NPM Volunteers

• Competitive

application

process

• agency staff

and volunteers

• train-the-trainer multiplier effect

NPM Certification

• pass final exam for 3 courses

• teach 60 people

Public Educated Per Year1

• 1,296 course participants

• 458 volunteers

• 28,489 educated by NPM volunteers

1

2009

What did participants learn?

• 99% increased skill in plant i.d.

• 92% more aware of importance of weed control

• 95% more aware of sustainable l landscaping

Impacts

• 78% began or increased planting of natives in a sustainable landscape

•103,932 acres impacted

Impacts

• 73% began or increased weed control efforts

• 472,490 acres impacted

NPM Financials

• $151,306 saved from improved grazing, crop output, tourism, etc.

• $49,201 saved from reduced watering, pest control etc.

• $30,809 Statewide User Fees

NPM Awards

• 2006 Communication Award – NACAA

• 2004 Excellence in Higher Education Award – CAEE

• 2002 National Program Leadership Award – ANREP

NPM is growing…Courses• 3 courses - 2003• 48 courses – 2009

CO NPMCounty Programs• 1 program - 2003• 11 programs –

2011

2011 NPM Programs

Counties/Areas:

• Boulder• Custer• Douglas• Eagle• Jefferson• Larimer

•Logan•Montezuma•Pueblo•San Miguel•Tri-River

Future Plans

– Course offerings– Online registration– Teacher re-licensure– Partnerships– Sponsorships– Grants

• Expand nationwide

• Strong CO NPM

For Further Information• Website – www.conativeplantmaster.org

• Colorado Plant Database – http://coloradoplants.jeffco.us

• Bookmarks

• Joel Reich,Boulder County

Horticulture Agent