Lawmakers want to restore native plants at National Parks

BAR HARBOR, Maine – Maine’s Republican senator is working with a Democratic colleague to try to restore native plants in America’s national parks.

Sen. Susan Collins has introduced the legislation along with Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington. Collins said the proposal would create a pilot program at the National Park Service designed to support the use of native plants.

The proposal is part of an effort to preserve biodiversity, Collins’ office said in a statement. It would also direct the park service to “review existing data and study the cost-effectiveness of using native plants,” the office said.

Collins said the proposal would “protect native plants such as blueberry barrens, white pines, and wildflowers, as well as prevent the future spread of invasive species across the State of Maine.”

A bipartisan group of U.S. representatives has submitted similar legislation in the House.