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.