Page 9 - Briefcase Volume 36 Number 2

PROTECTING POLLINATORS

UHLC Clinical Assistant Professor Simpson Beautifies Community

with Pollinator Sanctuary

University of Houston Law Center a few potted plants, if you choose them
Clinical Assistant Professor Lauren right and don’t use pesticides, you can
Jansen Simpson, has proven herself an support pollinators,” Simpson said.
esteemed educator, having received Simpson has been featured on a
the UH Teaching Excellence Award Briefcase Radio segment discussing
(Instructional/Clinical Category) in 2016 pollinator conservation and local
and the Student Bar Association Part- gardening ordinances. She is currently
Time Program Professor of the Year in exploring how to combine her passion
2017 and 2018. But her dedication does for pollinators with law; for example,
not end there. educating the public on how local and
Simpson, a 1994 Law Center alumna, state ordinances, as well as private deed
exudes passion for her community by restrictions, can affect wildscaping.
creating homes for pollinators in her Simpson is also interested in exploring
front yard. She’s created a wildscape “how to advocate for state and local laws
in which she has that are more supportive
documented 45 species of wildscaping.”
of butterfly, around 30 “Pollinators “The idea is to tie in
species of bee and about service to the school
25 species of wasp, are in serious — Dean Leonard
among other wildlife. M. Baynes and UH
Pollination is critical trouble.” System Chancellor and
for the reproduction of President Renu Khator
the majority of flowering have really been focused
plants, yet pollinators on the community,”
continue to decline as more land Simpson said. “UH and the Law Center
is developed. serve our community because it’s the
“Pollinators are in serious trouble,” right thing to do. This pollinator-
Simpson said. “We think primarily conservation education is my way of
insects, but it can be birds, reptiles, and doing that.”
bats — and their habitats are being Simpson was recently interviewed
broken apart. Invasive, non-native plants by KPRC Channel 2 for a segment that
are being brought in for landscaping, showcased her gardening expertise.
and few pollinators eat them. Once they She has given wildscaping and
grow, non-native plants can take over an pollinator presentations, including most
area, displacing natives.” recently at the Planting for Pollinators
Simpson walks the walk as much as workshop, sponsored by the Katy Prairie
she talks the talk. She’s dedicated her Conservancy and the Houston Audubon
front yard to start St. Julian’s Crossing, Society, at which she discussed how to
a wildlife habitat that demonstrates create wildscapes using native plants.
how simple it can be to help pollinators. Simpson teaches Lawyering Skills and
Photos and information on her garden Strategies to first-year students in the
and the pollinators it houses can be part time program. She is also Level 1
found on the St. Julian’s Crossing wildlife certified through the Native Landscape
habitat Facebook page. Certification Program of the Native
“Even if you have just a little patio with Plant Society of Texas. ■

2018 BRIEFCASE 9