A little disclaimer before I begin, I by no means do I mean to infringe on any copyrights by using that title (yes, I became super paranoid in the middle of the night and needed to add this). Anywho...
Last week, yours truly went on a daring adventure into the wild depths of McHenry's world renowned Glacial Park to aid in the battle against the evils of Honey Suckle and another just as dangerous invasive species that I'm sure you all have heard about- Buckthorn. At just past nine, I, along with all the other brave souls of Ap Bio, stepped out of the safeties of our yellow tanks and marched up enumerous mountainous hills to where we were told the battle would be held. Upon arrival we were divided into two groups, one would go and tend to lands already won where they would be instructed on regenerating the land through planting seeds, the other being sent straight to battle- I being put in the latter. There was no time for tearful goodbyes or last minute get-a-ways. With the tools that were handed to us, we set off!
Feeling rather self fulfilled with the task at hand, I chose to spend the three hours we were given to accomplish the mission right at the war front. What started as an impassible force of strong species quickly got brought to their knees by our trustworthy loppers and saws. Definitely the hardest task was bringing down a not two, not three, but four (!) Honey Suckles growing from one stump. Thankfully I had my ever so helpful co-soldier Amy Zahn at my side to bring that one down.
But why should this matter to you, a reader who is most likely lolling around comfortably on a couch or perhaps leaning back in your office chair? Because these species are taking over our forest preserves- the last connection that us suburban folk have left to nature close by. By doing so, they are killing off native plants, and driving those poor prairie animals away from their homes, because believe it or not these territories use to all be prairie/grassland. It's time we stood up for the little man! Down with Honey Suckle! Down with Buckthorn!
On a more serious note though, I do fully believe in restoration ecology because it is our fault that these species have made their way to these areas in the first place. By allowing them to continue growing and driving out native species, we are only furthering the problem because it is severely upsetting the ever so sensitive balance of the ecosystmem and will eventually completely destroy it by driving out all natural competition. Although we like to think of our selves as omnipotent, we are not. We too our dependent on the ecosystem we live in, so even if you are not a big "nature fan", at least think of yourself and all the other people you interact with.
Feeling rather self fulfilled with the task at hand, I chose to spend the three hours we were given to accomplish the mission right at the war front. What started as an impassible force of strong species quickly got brought to their knees by our trustworthy loppers and saws. Definitely the hardest task was bringing down a not two, not three, but four (!) Honey Suckles growing from one stump. Thankfully I had my ever so helpful co-soldier Amy Zahn at my side to bring that one down.
But why should this matter to you, a reader who is most likely lolling around comfortably on a couch or perhaps leaning back in your office chair? Because these species are taking over our forest preserves- the last connection that us suburban folk have left to nature close by. By doing so, they are killing off native plants, and driving those poor prairie animals away from their homes, because believe it or not these territories use to all be prairie/grassland. It's time we stood up for the little man! Down with Honey Suckle! Down with Buckthorn!
On a more serious note though, I do fully believe in restoration ecology because it is our fault that these species have made their way to these areas in the first place. By allowing them to continue growing and driving out native species, we are only furthering the problem because it is severely upsetting the ever so sensitive balance of the ecosystmem and will eventually completely destroy it by driving out all natural competition. Although we like to think of our selves as omnipotent, we are not. We too our dependent on the ecosystem we live in, so even if you are not a big "nature fan", at least think of yourself and all the other people you interact with.
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