Thank you for your interest and participation in the Voluntary Codes of Conduct program! Your business is important - to you, to your clients, and to the environment.

Your willingness to be a part of this national program will go a long way in helping to establish a successful method in reducing invasions by horticulturally harmful plants.

Steps to participate in the Voluntary Codes of Conduct

1. Review the appropriate Code of Conduct for your business.
2. Fill out the top portion of the Codes form with your business name and contact information.
3. For each of the codes, write down at least one statement of how your business will achieve that code. (See Example for ideas).
4. Review Codes with your local Voluntary Codes of Conduct (VCC) coordinator or with The Nature Conservancy's Horticulture Liaison.
5. Send a copy of the final document to your local VCC coordinator (they will forward a copy to the Horticulture Liaison).
6. As of Jan 1, 2006 each participating business will begin implementing their Codes.
7. A survey will be sent to the contact person a few times throughout the calendar year. This survey will help keep track of how each business is fairing, what changes we can make, and overall whether Codes of Conduct are a workable solution to the invasive plant issue.

Supporting strategies: There are several benefits and outcomes that may be helpful to your business.

1. We will post the names of all the participating businesses on The Nature Conservancies Invasive Species Team web site.
2. We are working to develop a communication network (either via the web or through regular conference calls or newsletters) to keep all the participants across the nation informed on each other's progress.
3. VCC participants will be invited to provide feedback on ideas or changes to the program, as well as attend workshops on related issues
4. As you work with your local coordinator and keep in touch with local invasive plant groups, you will have access to educational materials for distribution to your customers.
5. Your business will be able to comment or express ideas on how this voluntary program may mesh with regulatory programs.

If you have any questions, please contact your local coordinator, or The Nature Conservancy's Horticulture Liaison Valerie Vartanian, vvartanian(at)tnc.org, 314.577.9473 x 6201.

Examples of Codes of Conduct
Below are documents that will help you participate in the Codes. Use the Blank Forms to describe your participation in the Codes. The Example Forms provide some sample ideas for you to consider as you develop your strategies. All files are posted as both MS Word (.doc) format and Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format.
(The downloadable forms for Botanical Gardens will be uploaded shortly.)

Codes for Landscape Architects	Blank Form: Word doc  / Acrobat pdf	Example Form: Word doc  / Acrobat pdf
Codes for Nurseries	Blank Form: Word doc  / Acrobat pdf	Example Form: Word doc  / Acrobat pdf
Codes for Botanical Gardens	Blank Form: Word doc  / Acrobat pdf	Example Form: Word doc  / Acrobat pdf
Codes for Garden Clubs	Blank Form: Word doc  / Acrobat pdf	Example Form: Word doc  / Acrobat pdf

Horticulture Home
History and development of the Voluntary Codes of Conduct for horticulture.
Codes of Conduct
The Findings and Principles that were developed at the Missouri Botanical Gardens 2001 Workshop.
Cultivars
Cultivars are plant strains that have been selected for various horticultural characteristics. How do they fit into the issues of invasive species and horticultural plants?
Other resources
Tools such as brochures to help you in your work to stop invasions through horticulture.