Month: September 2021

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Second Phase of Howard Marsh Metropark Restoration Project Beginning

Smith, D. (2021, August 6). Metroparks meetup: An inside look at Phase 2 of Howard Marsh Metropark. https://www.13abc.com. https://www.13abc.com/2021/08/06/metroparks-meetup-an-inside-look-phase-2-howard-marsh-metropark/. 

A few years ago, the Howard Marsh Metropark restoration project was one of the largest such projects ever opened in the United States. After a few years of work, the second phase of the long project will begin. For the last century, the land has been used for agricultural purposes, so the restoration of a wetland will not be an easy task. Over 200 acres of land will need to be transformed. However, at the end of the project, people can expect a beautiful land that can be enjoyed by people and wildlife alike.

The article talked about a large project that was currently underway. The land that had up until recently been used for agriculture had been sold and was being converted into a wetland. To me, this showed how we can restore natural areas even after they have been used and abused for the production of things like our food. I was impressed that this project was approved, because it seemed like such a big commitment.

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Wetlands Restoration Approved after Hearing

Cherveny, T. (2021, August 3). Renville County approves small wetland restoration in County Ditch 66. West Central Tribune. https://www.wctrib.com/news/government-and-politics/7132379-Renville-County-approves-small-wetland-restoration-in-County-Ditch-66. 

After two hearings, the wetland restoration, spanning one acre, was approved by the Renville County Board of Commissions. In order to approve the restoration, the benefits of the restoration project needed to be shown. The restoration of the wetlands will provide positive environmental impacts, by reducing sedimentation and pollutants reaching the Minnesota River. Additionally, it will be an area where wildlife can prosper. Positive private impacts also needed to be proved. Proponents of the project stated that the additional wetlands will improve the drainage of the local area, an issue that has cost millions of dollars in recent years.

The article focused on the struggle that proponents of the restoration project had to face. In order for the project to be approved not only did the environmental benefits need to be shown, but also the benefits of private citizens of the area. This showed to me how often the environmental impacts are not the only things that are considered when a project like this is either approved or denied. Oftentimes it comes down to things like the benefits for citizens living in or near the area and financial issues.

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Klamath Tribe’s Wetlands Being Restored

Alexandra Feller Herald and News/Snowden Intern. (2021, August 3). ODOT to restore wetland with Klamath Tribes. Herald and News. https://www.heraldandnews.com/news/odot-to-restore-wetland-with-klamath-tribes/article_544a723c-df6c-5fc6-ac3b-3a778db68731.html. 

The Klamath Tribe’s wetlands have suffered and are completely dry. However, the Oregon Department of Transportation, or ODOT, has agreed to restore the former wetlands. This restoration project will not only give the tribe the water body that they once had, it will also help a couple of endangered fish species that have suffered as of late. Once the wetlands has reached equilibrium, endangered fish will be released into the wetlands, hopefully allowing the endangered species to flourish.

The article described a project that had been undertaken by the Oregon Department of Transportation. It described an issue that was affecting the Klamath Tribe and endangered species of fish and it explained what the ODOT was doing to help them. The project centered around the restoration of the now dried up wetlands that were a part of the Klamath Tribe’s land. My reaction to the article was gratitude for the organization that was helping the Tribe and a more positive outlook on the ways that people are affecting the environment. I was happy for the Tribe, because the wetlands have such a large impact on their lives.

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Wisconsin Wetlands Restoration Underway

Eric Peterson, F. O. X. 11 N. (2021, August 9). Wetlands restoration project taking shape along the lakeshore. WLUK. https://fox11online.com/news/local/wetlands-restoration-project-taking-shape-along-the-lakeshore. 

In Manitowoc county, a wetlands restoration project is underway. The land was originally owned by the Henry family, who, a few years ago, donated the land to the Woodland Dunes Nature Center. After observing the land for a couple years, the Department of Natural Resources Wisconsin Wetland Conservation Trust, who oversaw the project, restored the land to its original state. The land is still not available for public use, however in just a couple years it should be completely public.

The article explained how a project that was meant to restore wetlands in Wisconsin was going. The article explained the process of the restoration and the current state that the restoration was in. This article showed a way in which we can restore wetlands. My reaction to the article was impressed by the generosity of the family that donated the land. It showed me that there are still people out there that care for the environment and are willing to make the necessary changes to aid the environment.

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Effects on Nature by Covid-19 and Lockdowns

Owens, B. O. (2021, June 27). The Positive and Negative Impacts of Covid on Nature. Smithsonian Magazine. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/positive-and-negative-impacts-covid-nature-180977840/

 

The article shows how the environment changed during the pandemic due to little to no ecotourism. With no people attending popular places in nature, the environment was able to grow towards what it once was before humans damaged it. The damage that humans cause is extreme, and the planet improved immensely during the pandemic due to the expulsion of ecotourism. The environment will likely move back to what it was before the pandemic if we are not careful and respectful of it.

 

This article was extremely helpful in showing the effects of ecotourism, and how it changes the environment in negative ways. With the absence of people in many places, plants and animals flourished and were able to grow and become more stable than before. I thought this article was great and very helpful because it showed how much the environment recovered without the presence of humans.

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Sustainable Travel and How to Be More Green

Qatar Airways, Q. A. (2021, August 4). What to look for when making sustainable travel plans. Seattle Times. https://www.seattletimes.com/sponsored/what-to-look-for-when-making-sustainable-travel-plans/

 

This article focuses on the ways you can be more environmentally friendly when traveling, and how each part of your trip can be improved to benefit both the environment as well as your trip. Ways such as choosing flights and transport were mentioned in the article to help our environment while we go on vacation. This article was sponsored by Qatar Airways, this shows us that the article is trustworthy due to their immense knowledge of flights and transportation. 

 

This article relates to ecotourism because it shows how even traveling to far places can be environmentally friendly, and how it is possible to make smarter decisions in each part of your vacation. I think this article helped me understand how many ways there are to benefit your vacations and keep the environment healthy even when visiting new places.

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The Emergence of Sustainable Travel

Glusac, E. G. (2021, February 25). Move Over, Sustainable Travel. Regenerative Travel Has Arrived. New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/27/travel/travel-future-coronavirus-sustainable.html

 

This article is similar to the previous one, but focuses more on the tourism part of ecotourism, and what tourists need to do to protect our planet. Since the pandemic, there has been a rapid decline in tourism, with many travel bans in place. Many are expecting an extreme rise in tourism and travel in the coming months due to people feeling safer to travel. This could be great and cause many people to have jobs that are involved in tourism. However, if tourists are not caring for the environment, it could cause ecosystems to fall and collapse due to tourists.

 

This article focused primarily on the return of tourism following the pandemic, and how it will affect people and the environment. As long as we are able to protect our environment and treat it with care while we are on vacation, tourism will be great to have returned. I thought this article was helpful because it focused more on the tourism side of things while also adding how it will affect the environment and what we must do to be respectful to our planet.

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The Return of Ecotourism

Augustin, J. A. (2021, March 11). ECOTOURISM’S POST-COVID COMEBACK. Suston Magazine. https://sustonmagazine.com/2021/03/11/ecotourism-post-covid-comeback/

 

Due to the pandemic, many places have struggled to make money due to the loss of traveling and tourism. Ecotourism brought profit to many people before the pandemic, and now that restrictions have been reduced, ecotourism is expected to return, and maybe in larger quantities than before. Some believe that the pandemic allowed people to learn to respect nature more, and this could lead to ecotourism being more sustainable and beneficial to the environment. If all goes well, ecotourism will return to what it once was, and the pandemic would have benefitted to teach the tourists how to treat our environment.

 

Upon reading the article, I thought it was nice to see the bright side to ecotourism, as there are several positives as long as people are respectful to our environment. With many travel restrictions being dropped, I think many people are eager to go into nature again and explore new places. This will be good for many people as it will bring profit and business to their jobs that were harmed from the pandemic. My only wish is that people will learn to respect nature when traveling, and will allow ecotourism to grow but remain safe and sustainable.

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Cruises Invading Antarctica

Heath, E. H. (2021, April 15). Antarctica cruises are booming. But can the continent handle it? Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/travel/antarctica-cruises-ecotourism-sustainability-conservation/2021/04/15/005e3fc6-9b9f-11eb-8005-bffc3a39f6d3_story.html

 

In Antarctica, many cruise ships pass through for tourists to view and experience the barren continent. However, the area can not sustain the pollution and effects that the ships have on the environment. Climate change has already had a harsh impact on the continent, but with the addition of extremely large ships filled with tourists, the animals and glaciers around them are not able to sustain themselves. If ships continue to cross the area at the same rate, the effects on the environment will be everlasting and devastating.

 

This article shows how ecotourism can affect the environment in negative ways and cause serious problems for ecosystems. The effects of cruise ships entering the South Pole cause many animals to be in danger and have potential effects on the glaciers and ice. When reading this article, it was the first article I read on ecotourism, so it opened my eyes to see how harsh the effects we can have on certain places and animals. If we continue our current treatment of the environment, we will cause many species to go extinct, and it will result in everlasting changes to our climate that could threaten our current way of life.

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Invasive Caterpillars Invading Maine

 

Jiménez, Jesus. “Maine Residents Fend off Poisonous Caterpillars.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 13 June 2021, www.nytimes.com/2021/06/13/us/maine-browntail-moth-caterpillar.html. 

 

This article talks about browntail moth caterpillars which have been infesting Maine in recent months. Scientists have noted that browntail moth caterpillars have been in Maine for nearly 100 years, but climate change and a more arid climate has allowed their population to thrive. The caterpillars themselves are somewhat poisonous and can cause skin rashes as well as breathing problems for certain people. The caterpillars’ are native to cape code and maine’s coast, but have recently been found in all 16 of Maine’s counties. Scientists believe the caterpillars hitchhiked their way into Maine 100 years ago. Infestations are supposed to only get worse as climate change creates a more ideal environment for them. 

 

Perhaps the most significant aspect of this article is climate change’s role in invasive species being able to thrive. Climate change has obviously played a role in changing environments but what many forget is that this can cause damage to existing ecosystems, plants, and animals. In turn, other invasive species have been given a better chance to survive in new environments. While some may argue that this can still benefit already existing species, it can also damage other existing species. Many of the ecosystems we see today have existed for hundreds of years and have been stabilized to create a healthy cycle. Climate change is one of  the biggest deterrent to keeping ecosystems stable.