Installing fiber mat to help stabilize Rocky Run stream bank. See the special photo feature at the bottom of this webpage.

When Mike Mooney founded Habitat Solutions, Inc. he worked on lots of restoration projects, but didn’t have a lot of experience running his own business.

Now three years later, Mooney has worked on jobs as far away as Georgia and as close as Greene and Allegheny counties supplying native species for wetland restoration and original plantings and has two employees.

“Non-native species are the Trojan horse of environmental problems,” said Mooney. “Planting species from most nurseries could be doing more damage than good.”

Habitat Solutions, Inc. is located on 15 acres and specializes in supplying native wetland and riparian species.

“The wetland and nursery area we have are on land owned by CONSOL Energy, Inc., 200 yards away from the Hahn mine discharge treatment facility,” said Mooney.

"This project has really been a cooperative effort with CONSOL Energy, and has been mutually beneficial to both organizations," said Joseph A. Cerenzia, Manager, Public Relations, CONSOL Energy, Inc..

One of Mooney’s most interesting jobs was to supply plant materials for the Riverquarium in Georgia that serves as an interpretative center for native species.

“They found us almost be accident on the Internet,” said Mooney. “It’s hard to find nurseries that supply these kinds of plant materials.”

Mooney, 28, graduated from Wittenberg University with a degree in biology.

He started his business after getting practical experience in the Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Program and working for a consulting firm in Pennsylvania that had its own native plant nursery.

“I worked on projects in the five preserves in the Ohio system and on Superfund restoration projects for the consulting firm,” said Mooney. “My experiences there led me to see the demand for nurseries like Habitat Solutions.”

The Greene County project involved wetlands and stream restoration as well as wetlands enhancement in Rocky Run for CONSOL Energy, something Mooney says is rare all in one project. (See the special photo feature at the bottom of this webpage.)

The Pennsylvania Biodiversity Partnership last year released its draft Conservation Plan which highlighted two main threats to biodiversity in Pennsylvania—loss of habitat and pollution.

Included in concerns about loss of habitat was the growing problem of non-native, invasive species of plants and animals. Restoration of native species on public and private lands was a key recommendation in the draft Plan.

Mike Mooney and Habitat Solutions, Inc. are part of a new industry spawned initially by government rules requiring land and stream restoration, but growing now because of the interest businesses, watershed groups and individual property owners have shown in restoring native species and systems in the environment.

“It’s great to be able to apply what you know and build a business that benefits the environment, all at the same time,” said Mooney.

Contact Mike Mooney at 412-853-7883 or by email to: mike@habitatsolutions.net

More Resources: Pennsylvania Native Plant Society

Three Rivers Habitat Council

Landscaping with Native Plants in PA

Audubon Center for Native Plants

Wildlands Conservancy Native Plants Initiative

Non-Native Invasive Species

PA Landscape & Nursery Association – Invasive Plants

Octorara Native Plant Nursery

Ernest Conservation Seeds

4/29/2005