WERA-1013 is an officially recognized Western Education/Extension and Research Activity designed to enhance the introduction and evaluation of native plants and to provide education concerning their use and propagation. The people involved make up a working group of western US university and nursery professionals who wish to advance the use of native plants in landscaping and gardening.

The need for increased use of native plants for landscape uses involve three major environmental issues:

• The increasingly critical need to conserve water in the arid west.
• The need to provide habitat for local animals within the urban environment.
• Create more sustainable landscape systems through the use of adapted plant materials.

• Establish a regional system for the development, evaluation, and introduction of new native plant materials.
• Coordinate regional efforts to provide education to both public and industry professionals on native plant use, propagation, and production.