Janet Cameron from Lane Community College shares her reflections after volunteering with the Camas Educational Network
The following is an excerpt from a presentation made by a group of Lane Community College students enrolled in an introductory sustainability course taught by Sonja Mae. The assignment was to reflect on the native plant nursery volunteer project and its relevance to sustainability.
My name is Janet and I’ve been focusing on native plant species identification and familiarization. This has sparked what I’m sure will be a life-long passion, if not a vocation.
It’s not possible to over-emphasize the role that native species restoration plays in the overall health of our bioregion. Native plants (sometimes only native within a 20 miles radius) are just one vital element in the intricate bioweb of any region, along with soil, water, air, animals, and insects. Nature’s diverse way of propagating and pollinating within these elements is astounding in its scope–too large to do more than mention today.
Questions to ask regarding each plant species:
- What animals or insects benefit from this plant?
- If a plant is a weed, what are it’s affects on gardens and/or habitats?
- What is the best method of removal?
In the past, regional cultures have thrived based on their wise stewardship and inherent land ethos. Two noteworthy species were pivotal in the social, environmental and economic equality of many indigenous groups within our bioregion: the Oak tree (as Jason mentioned in his presentation) and the Camas plant.
Since a healthy biota is a circular, self-sustaining system, it behooves us to carefully observe what’s around us. In barely scratching the surface of native plant identification, I’ve noticed that some species, looking similar to close neighbors in the wild, are deadly to ingest, or they can cause illness or great discomfort. That’s not to say that other life in the biota will suffer the same effects, but we need to be careful and know what we’re looking at and touching.
The symbiosis inherent in native species habitats is often so delicate that any disturbance will cause imbalance. For instance, 2 of the native plant species on the list Sandra provided us with are hosts to butterflies–and/or provide a nectar source–but only to very specific species of butterflies. This delicate balance is evident in all habitats, once we know what we’re looking for.
Plant species are propagated or pollinated in a fascinating variety of ways. One species has an oil in its seeds that ants just love, so the plant is propagated by the colony’s movements. There’s a dizzying array of similar examples. So, it’s no mystery why restoration requires the hearts and senses of a great many people who have garnered specialized knowledge of different elements within any given biota. And why it’s so heartening that they’re collaborating in educational outreach webs such as the Camas Educational Network.
