aaron314
Registered: October 2009
Posts: 1
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Over the past few years, I have experienced first hand the negative effects on biodiversity caused by habitat destruction. It all began when I was in middle school in 2004, and my family decided to develop a four-acre lot just outside of Valdosta. The first time I saw the lot, it looked like a wilderness compared to the urban scenery that I was used to. By the time we started clearing the land, I found a great diversity of plants such as pitcher plants, bog orchids, and sundews. I was immediately interested in the plant biodiversity of the lot. Unfortunately, while I was on a ski trip one week, the population of pitcher plants was bulldozed over. It was from that point on that I realized how much of a threat land development poses to wildlife.
About a year later, one of my elementary school teachers began to develop the lot in front of ours. I noticed some pitcher plants in front of the lot by the road. With his permission, my brother and I transplanted them to my lot where I knew they would be safe.
Over the next few years, I witnessed the effects of invasive species and wetland drainage. First, I noticed that the wetland plants were declining in number because the drain tiles were working too effectively. Next, centipede grass stared invading the ditch were all the wildflowers grew. There was a gradual decline in the number native plants. By my junior year in high school, I knew something had to be done.
First, I moved many of the plants to the back of the lot where drain tiles had not been placed. They have been growing much better there because of the plentiful supply of water. Next, I began to dig up the centipede grass and covered an area of lawn into a space where wildflowers could grow. Lastly, when my dad dug a pond where the back lawn used to be, I planted native trees along a side of it and I am planting wildflowers into a ditch that feeds into it.
I have finally noticed considerable improvement on the condition of the land. Areas that were once lawn are now populated by keystone species such as sphagnum moss, and indicator species such as sundews. These areas are attracting many animal species as well. I have noticed an increase in the frogs and green anoles on the land. I am also encouraging birds by placing birdfeeders on the trees.
Although there have been considerable improvements on the land, There is still much more work to be done. I plan to double the size of the bog area next year by weeding more of the centipede grass out. I also believe educating people will help revive an interest in habitat conservation. Just recently, I found another colony of bog plants, including pitcher plants, on my next-door neighbors’ lot. I told them about it and they seem interested in preserving the area. I also educate my friends about our unique habitat. They are always surprised to find such a wide variety of plants and animals living on our lot.
This experience has taught me how simple it can be to protect native species as well as inspiring me continue helping our environment. I am currently the head of special projects of my school’s environmental club. This club also works to promote biodiversity by participating in activities such as rivers alive, where local youth clean nearby waterways. I am very interested in the plant and animal species that live in our area, and with the help of my family and friends, I will continue to preserve the native species where I live.
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