RainScaping Goes International

On June 4th, an initiative* that brings foreign professionals to the U.S. to meet with their American counterparts and discuss issues of interest, brought a group of 12 distinguished environmentalists from Latin America to Annapolis. Their first stop was a visit to the Chesapeake Ecology Center's (CEC) 24 Native Plant Demonstration Gardens and Sites, located at Adams Academy Middle School. And, their feedback was so positive that the State Department asked the CEC to host another group of 19 international guests the very next week. Both groups were eager to hear about the CEC, rain gardens, and other rainscaping techniques to mitigate stormwater runoff.

The Latin American delegation was particularly interested in learning about how Americans rainscape to reduce polluted runoff. They were also very interested in learning about volunteerism and working with students, and how that has made the CEC's habitat restoration and educational initiatives, 24 Native Plant Demonstration Gardens and Sites, including eight rain gardens, such a success. As the tour progressed, there was much discussion and excitement about how the basic principles of rainscaping would be very applicable to reducing polluted runoff in their own countries. The tour concluded with everyone pitching in and participating with Anne Arundel County Master Gardeners in a volunteer activity to maintain the Shade Garden at the CEC.

After such a successful initial tour, the World Trade Center Institute, on behalf of the U.S. Department of State, requested that the CEC share its program with another delegation of visitors from countries around the world including Mexico, Cambodia, El Salvador, Botswana, India, Thailand, Serbia, and Zimbabwe the very next week. So, on Thursday, June 11th, the CEC hosted a group of 19 officials with a variety of backgrounds all connected to the environment. As they toured the gardens, they learned from the CEC's Executive Director, Zora Lathan, about concepts such as rain gardens, green roofs, rain barrels, and native plants; and they were encouraged to use plants native to their particular regions. Again the group went to work, volunteering to help with the Shade Garden by spreading mulch throughout this expansive area. They found the experience to be very enlightening and enjoyable. Master Gardeners and CEC staff also enjoyed the exchange and appreciated their help in sprucing up the Shade Garden.

The international visitors then left to visit the Highland Beach Town Hall where Dr. William Sanders gave them an informative presentation about the town hall, which is a green building that has earned LEED Platinum certification. They were particularly interested in hearing his presentation, and had the opportunity for a very informative exchange of ideas and information relating to green building in this country and internationally. Notably, Dr. Sanders has traveled to many of the visitors' countries in his work for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

* This program is under the auspices of the U.S. Department of State's International Visitors Leadership Program. The World Trade Center Institute in Baltimore is the premier organization which administers the International Visitors Leadership Program for the entire state of Maryland on behalf of the U. S. Department of State. The program seeks to build understanding between the United States and people of other countries through carefully designed programs to discuss best practices in various professional fields and improve American foreign relations. Participants are established or potential foreign leaders in their area of expertise.

To read the article about the events in The Capital Newspaper by Pamela Wood click here.