Wild Ones Kalamazoo Area Chapter

Kalamazoo Area Wild Ones (KAWO) is a chapter of the national Wild Ones organization dedicated to connecting people with native plants in southwest Michigan. Founded in 1999 and serving over 200 members across 4 counties, KAWO helps inform, educate, and empower residents to restore local biodiversity through native plant landscaping. The organization believes that yards of any size can make a meaningful difference in preserving regional habitat and supporting wildlife, from pollinators to birds and amphibians. Through community projects, volunteer opportunities, educational programs, and social events, KAWO members learn to replace invasive non-native plants and reduce lawns by planting diverse native trees, shrubs, wildflowers, and grasses. This habitat restoration approach directly supports the herbivorous insects that form the foundation of local food webs while providing natural resilience against climate change impacts.