Israeli initiative aims to protect urban wild plants

“They asked me, ‘Alex, have you seen these markings before? Do you know who did that?’” Ringer said.

Ringer told his neighbors that he was responsible for the writings and that he was one of dozens of nature lovers who currently tag wild plants throughout Israel and document their sightings in the Facebook group “More than Weeds.” Ringer set up the group to raise awareness about the importance of urban wild plants and wildlife and to introduce residents to the colorful nature around them.

The 75-year-old Ringer might not be a botanist, but plants have always been a part of his life.

“I studied biology in high school, and I was a master in identifying plants,” he recalled. “I enjoyed looking up all the details that make up the plant in a book called The Identification Book for the Plants of the Land of Israel. That was long before all the apps, websites, WhatsApp, and Facebook groups for plant identification.”

Ringer sees great importance in preserving urban wild plants, often referred to as “weeds,” or “nuisances,” unwelcome in gardens and public spaces.

“My backyard contains all the wild plants of the area, which I consider a continuation of nature,” he said. “Wild plants have a role to play in the city. Some nectar-producing plants are used by bees and other pollinating insects.”

In fact, many wild plants provide larger amounts of pollen and nectar than a few fully-grown garden plants.

“There are also trees like buckthorns, whose fruits provide food for birds.” In winter, animals, like insects and snails, which live inside the sidewalks and walls, can eat the plants’ roots. And when they thrive, animals that feed on them, like birds and hedgehogs, also benefit from the plants. On top of this, of course, you have the aesthetic value of the flowering plants in the city streets.”

Ringer was inspired to create a wild-plant labeling project in Israel when he read about similar initiatives in other countries. The idea first developed in France, where a state-imposed ban on the use of herbicides and pesticides in public areas prompted an increase in wildflower awareness. French botanist Boris Fresco started the movement when he decided to tag the plants on the streets of the city of Toulouse. A video of him labeling plants across the city has garnered more than million views.

From there, the phenomenon spread to other cities in Europe, most notably to London. A post on Twitter that included photos of chalk-marked plants in London received over 125,000 likes and was shared more than 20,000 times. The initiative is being promoted in London by residents of the city and by Sophie Gil, a French botanist. Gil has received special permission to label street plants, although it is otherwise prohibited by British law.

RINGER SHARED an article about the global phenomenon in the Facebook group “Botany for Lovers of Wild Plants of Israel.” When his post received hundreds of likes, comments, and shares, he decided to import the initiative to Israel.

“I went out to the parking lot near my house where a fig tree grew in a crack between the sidewalk and a stone wall,” Ringer said. “I discovered it many years ago. The tree grows and grows, and the municipality keeps coming back, pruning, tearing and abusing it. This tree was given the first tag.” 

The picture of the tagged tree serves as the profile picture for the Facebook group he created. Ringer also approached Gil and agreed to name the group after the London initiative “More than Weeds.”

Today, the group is publishing photographs of wild plants with their names written in chalk next to them on a daily basis. Apart from Ringer, several dozen people from throughout Israel post pictures in the group.

Ringer hopes the initiative he is leading will contribute to raising public awareness of wild plants. In a poll conducted by a British company, only 6% of participants ages 16-24 were able to correctly identify a violet. Some 70% of respondents in the same survey expressed a desire to know how to identify greater numbers of wildflowers.

“We want to connect people to urban nature, and show them that cities also offer fascinating flora,” said Ringer.

“The goal is to enhance the knowledge of pedestrians, and to convey the message that these plants are not ‘weeds,’ but plants that have value and importance.” 

According to Ringer, knowing about the plants will encourage residents to preserve them. 

“People will look at the photos and ask themselves, ‘How come I never noticed how beautiful that plant actually is?’” he said. “There is no greater satisfaction than this.”

What does the future hold for the “More than just Weeds” initiative? 

“First of all, I would like to increase the number of members and encourage more people to take part in the initiative,” Ringer said.

Later, Ringer hopes to conduct tours, where participants will label wild plants themselves. He is currently looking for a botanist to assist him in the guided tours and to contribute some professional knowledge.

“I would also like to contact local authorities to make them aware of the importance of preserving wild plants across the city. That is, if they have to prune or uproot a plant, they would know how to do it carefully, refraining from the use of environmentally harmful substances, and cause the least harm,” said Ringer.

Ringer has called on the residents of Israel, wherever they may live, to go out and label wild plants in their neighborhoods, including those people who don’t know the first thing about plants. 

“Go for a stroll down a street, equipped with your curiosity,” he said.

“Then, if you do not know the name, take a picture, and ask someone in a WhatsApp group that deals with the subject, or in a Facebook group like ours,” he added.

“You can also go to the website ‘Flora of Israel Online’ [flora.org.il] and look up any details about the plant you found, like which family it belongs to when it blooms and what fruit it bears. The next time you pass by the plant, you can write the name next to it, take a photo, and upload it to the group. I think there is no greater satisfaction than that.”