As a Bird City Texas community, Galveston is committed to protecting birds through education, conservation and restoration. One way our community is doing this is through partnerships. Joined through compatible goals, Galveston Island Nature Tourism Council, The Port of Galveston and the American Bird Conservancy teamed up along with help from the Galveston Island Tree Conservancy to promote sustainability, as well as help protect resident and migratory birds here in Galveston. They raised funds to implement native Texas plants into the parking lot design for the new Royal Caribbean cruise terminal at Pier 10. As a Green Marine Certified Port, the Port of Galveston is committed to sustainability.

Nearly two billion birds migrate through Texas each spring and fall and native plants provide valuable food and shelter for birds that stop over to rest and refuel or stay for some time. Some of the plants shown in the Pier 10 garden are native to Texas. Native plants provide many benefits to people, wildlife, and the entire ecosystem by helping:

• Conserve water
• Purify the air
• Stabilize the soil
• Mitigate flooding
• Reduce fertilizer and pesticide use
• Provide food and habitat for wildlife
• Support biodiversity and conservation

You can help support wildlife in your backyard or business by incorporating native plants into your design!

NOTE: Plants with an * are not currently present in this bed, but will be used in a port bed east of the terminal or added to this bed at a later date.