The Oklahoma Conservation Commission launches a new program to promote eco-friendly landscapes.

Grounds by Grounds is a community resilience project to help preserve some of the plants and animals that conservation officials say make Oklahoma special.

Tulsa County and 24 other counties across the state have joined the program. Businesses, schools, churches and parks can apply to be part of it.

To get certified, the area has to be pesticide-free and use at least 5 eco-friendly practices across categories. Those practices include food production, soil health, wildlife habitat and water conservation.

Urban Soil Health Specialist Marcus Long with the Conservation Commission said many areas already qualify without realizing it.

"A school could just have native plants in their landscaping, and maybe a pollinator garden, along with some of the soil health practices like leaving your clippings after you mow or mowing a little higher, which both practices promote soil health, and that would just about qualify them, just a couple simple things like that,"

Areas that do get certified get a sign recognizing their achievement and can also get grants to help them protect THE GREEN SPACE.

CLICK HERE to learn more about the program and how to apply.