When I worked at The Nature Conservancy in the 1990s, we were controlling invasive species and managing lands for their natural diversity. At the time, those of us engaged in this work felt lonely and overwhelmed by the scale of the problem. But a remarkable shift has happened since then, and it is being played out here in Seattle.
Landscape restoration has caught on in a big way – both locally and nationally. My daughter and I recently participated in several work parties along the Burke-Gilman Trail, where at least five acres have been restored in the past three years. We pulled out Blackberries, mulched the area with chips and cardboard, and later planted native trees and shrubs. It was satisfying work.
I see evidence of this kind of work all over town: from the Burke-Gilman Trail to Discovery, Lake People, Magnuson, Mekwa Mooks, Ravenna, and Seward Parks; at Madrona Woods and Union Bay Natural Area, just to name a few places where people are actively restoring Seattle’s natural diversity. This is something to be proud of and to join in wherever possible. Interested? The Green Seattle Partnership can get you involved: http://greenseattle.org/volunteers
As the late, great historian and author, Stephen Ambrose said: “In the 19th Century we devoted our best minds to exploring nature. In the 20th Century we devoted ourselves to controlling and harnessing it. In the 21st Century, the best minds are working on how to restore nature.”
