Restoration Ecology

On the restoration field trip we were able to experience how much our local environment is tainted by invasive species. And the work that needs to be done in order to bring the environment back to what it once was. We removed foreign invasive species that were in a sense choking out the naturally occurring original plants. We also worked to replant and nurture oak and hazelnut trees because they were the plants that should be there, instead of the ash trees and brush.

 

Here is one of the local growing "Nutella trees" (hazelnut tree), we went to all of these and watered them with 2 gallons of water each. These trees were planted in a field along with other oak saplings. Another task we had was to plant acorns rebound these trees in the hope that some more trees would grow.

After we watered the trees we went over to remove the invasive species. We learned very quickly that there are tons of thorns that are ready to prick you. We hacked and chopped away at all the unwanted brush in order to free up room for the naturally occurring plants. And anything that we chopped down we put on these big burn piles. The piles will be burned later in order to keep the plants from just re growing. Also the burning helps the carbon cycle releasing all the stored carbon in the plants into the air via smoke.

I learned that we as humans have a massive impact on the enviornment around us. All the invasive plants that were there would never have gotten there if they weren't carried by us from all diffrent places. Because we came here from all over we brought all diffrent plants that pollenated and started taking over the land. When this all happens they start to kill off the naturally occurring plants which in turn slowly kill off the local wildlife because their food source is gone. This is why we have restoration, to make sure that the invasive species do not completely take over and kill off everything.

Now as I have just explained is why we have restoration ecology, but I have a sort of difficult question. What does it actually matter? Lets say that we just let these invasive species take over and all the natural plants and animals are wiped out. I guess what I am saying is "so what?" Is there any real reason other than just the moral obligation that we feel that we need to fix the damage we essentially caused?

-Eddie Graham