Doug Tallamy

Doug Tallamy is Professor and Chair of the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware in Newark, Delaware, where he has authored 68 research articles and has taught Insect Taxonomy, Behavioral Ecology, and other courses for 28 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 new book “Bringing Nature Home; How Native Plants Sustain Wildlife in Our Gardens” was published by Timber Press in 2007 and was awarded the 2008 silver medal by the Garden Writer’s Association.

In his free time Tallamy enjoys photography (particularly of insects and birds), hiking and backpacking with his wife in remote places, swimming and canoeing, and teaching young people about the importance of the life forms around them.  To learn more about Doug Tallamy, visit his web page.

Doug's keynote address will explore why we need biodiversity;  why we need to change landscaping paradigms to save biodiversity; why animal diversity depends on native plants; what a sustainable suburban ecosystem might look like.  With as many as 33,000 species imperiled in the U.S., it is clear that we must change our approach to landscaping if we hope to create homes and food for our local biodiversity. Native plants will play a key role in the restoration of our living spaces because only natives provide the coevolved relationships required by animals. By supporting a diversity of insect herbivores, native plants provide food for a large and healthy community of natural enemies that keep herbivores in balance and our gardens aesthetically pleasing.

Copies of his book, Bringing Nature Home; How Native Plants Sustain Wildlife in Our Gardens will be available for sale and signing at the conference.  To order a copy online visit Timber Press.