Invading Our Favorite Places

Invasive species are one growing environmental problem on which we can all make a huge difference. Simply knowing what species are considered invasive in your area and avoiding planting them, or helping with active removal of them, can make all the difference. Many people do not realize the problem these plants can cause, or underestimate their ability to spread. There is lots of information available by getting in touch with local conservation groups or looking at state and federal invasive species rules and plans. By visiting The National Invasive Species Information Center, one can find more material about their state or a particular species.

It is encouraging that this issue is starting to attract more attention. I recently listened to a good Vermont Public Radio story on invasive species, but something really worried me after the story. Someone posed the question, “Why are invasive species such a problem?” The response was that the reasons were readily apparent when driving along a highway and seeing endless Wild Parsnip along the road; that this plant was abundant along the road and can cause bad skin reactions with contact. The human worry is not the main problem. The real worry about invasive species is the huge affect they can have on our native ecology. Invasive plants can completely alter natural ecosystems by pushing out native plants and reducing biodiversity. Invasive insects are completely removing species from our forests. The worry about invasive species should not be focused on their impact on humans, but the devastating changes they have on the native forests, wetlands, and other natural areas.

The answer can again be to take care of our own favorite places, be conscious of what we do in our own lawn or garden, and realize our choices impact more than ourselves. Even this scale environmental problem can be controlled at the level of the individual. 

A Wake-up Call

Much of my life I have been amazed by the beauty of our natural world, but there are moments when the full force of its beauty and importance are truly inspiring. I have had several of these moments in the past few months, and have realized how much one moment of complete awe in nature can change how one thinks about their impact on the environment.

These moments seem to come most readily atop mountains for me – looking out over the snow-covered Pemigewasset Wilderness in NH from Zealand Cliff, walking along the Bigelow Range in Maine, or looking south at the White Mountains from Percy Peak. The most recent came while watching the sunset on White Rocks in Middlesex, VT. The peaks were still lit by the fading sun and Swainson’s Thrushes were calling their beautiful notes. Their call was the only sound I could hear, and I realized the importance of this single species. While the solitude of the moment created the full feeling of awe, I couldn’t help but wish that more people could be there. If everyone could feel a little bit of that natural inspiration, wouldn’t the environment seem so much more important? If everyone had one natural place that they felt was worth saving, wouldn’t we all be more conscious of our impact on the planet?

I hope so and I truly believe a difference can be made, starting at the scale of the individual. If we all take care of and pay attention to a place where we find natural beauty, whether it is an entire National Forest or it is a favorite tree in a park, we will gain a greater sense of the importance of our environment on a larger scale.

This moment of hearing the Swainson’s Thrushes was not the start of my strong interest in conservation, but it stood out and brought to the surface my deep interest in protecting our earth, and everything on it. Though many of my ideas already exist, I hope to share my thoughts, experiences and passion regarding our beautiful planet and our relation to it. I hope everyone can experience moments of joy and inspiration from something as small as a thrush.