“It is
not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that
survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change.”-Charles
Darwin
Thousands of animal and plant species are in the process of migrating to adapt to the
conditions that climate change imposes on them for their survival. Considering
this fact, how can we expect ecosystems to be “unchanged”? We can’t. Ecosystems
are dynamic. The concept of “invasive” species becomes a controversial one when
one cares to analyze the intricate ways in which everything is connected.
New
species have to adapt to their new surroundings. You are not alone if you have
been wondering about the implications of the new situations that arise as a
result of climate change and other phenomena. I have noticed how this subject
has been conveniently neglected, so I am thankful for Tao Orion’s book.
Tao
Orion explains that non-native species are the symptoms of a complex
situation caused by human actions such as logging, mining, emissions of
greenhouse gases, unsustainable agriculture, pollution, war conflicts and other
human destructive behaviors. The root causes of the presence of invasive
species are not even taken into consideration when resorting to the use of
herbicides and pesticides with the futile goal of eradicating a species under
the delusion that these chemicals will not affect the native ones. (These
chemicals may increase the revenue of the manufacturers, but there is no
evidence that they support biodiversity, human health and the environment).
When Tao Orion was employed to restore land in 2010, she was shocked to learn that she was expected to use Round Up for her work. As an organic producer of food, she disagreed with this management. Today we know more about the effects of herbicides and pesticides, and we are continuously learning about the consequences of climate change, so Tao Orion’s book has become more relevant.
Research on the effects of Glyphosate, for example, continues to emerge. In 2023 research conducted by scientists at UC Berkeley School of Public Health showed that “childhood exposure to the world’s most widely used weedkiller, glyphosate, is linked to liver inflammation and metabolic disorder in early childhood, which could lead to liver cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease later in life.” You can read about it here, and learn more about the researchers’ recommendations.
While
it is necessary and important to foster the growth of native plants, it is also
crucial to understand the issues that bring in new species to a place in
order to address the root causes of the shift instead of adamantly
trying to eradicate a so-called “invasive” species. It is also crucial to
understand how new species interact with the environment, because this may help
to advocate for strategies that can integrate non-native species into the new
environment. For
example, pollinators may benefit from flowers that are not considered to be
native.
Even
though Tao Orion’s book was published in 2015 and some specific points may be
outdated, her approach introduces the science of permaculture to restore
ecosystems, and encourages us to apply this knowledge to our daily choices in
our own gardens. The book contains a foreword by David Holmgren.
Tao
Orion advocates for methods that consider the relationships in ecosystems, not
only those among the living beings in specific habitats but also their interactions with water, air and soil.
Classifying species into “native” and
“invasive” groups is akin to labeling them as the “good” versus the “bad” ones.
“We could
define nativism as the war against naturalizing species, an ideology that
sought to separate nature into good and bad species according to some fixed
historical reference.” A paradigm shift is necessary. Ecologist Haikai Tane
in New Zealand coined the term “ecosynthesis” to describe the restoration of
ecosystem function in the process of combining native and foreign species that
colonized abandoned landscapes.
I invite you
to read this interview with Tao Orion to learn more:
https://macskamoksha.com/2022/02/beyond-the-war-on-invasive-species-interview-with-tao-orion
You can also listen to a podcast with Tao
Orion at Reseed Canada:
https://www.reseed.ca/listen/remembering-we-are-stewards
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As I type these words, my gaze wanders out the window to
embrace the vibrancy of the fall leaves swirling and settling on the ground,
creating a composite of hues: ochre, yellow, red and orange. Leaves are an
excellent source of nutrition for the soil. Putting them in plastic bags to send
them to the landfill is a very poor decision. Leaves are rich in minerals
that can support the soil and the development of new plants. People waste
money buying mulch when they could simply use the leaves as mulch. The leaves
can also be shredded before using them for compost. This link provides some
ideas.
The leaves on the ground also form habitats, establishing new sources of shelter and food for various creatures. There are many worlds of life around us that we often take for granted…
If you enjoyed this post, feel free to visit
my writing on the following books:
Sweet inTooth and Claw: Stories of Generosity and Cooperation in the Natural World by Kristin Ohlson
The Wisdom
of Wolves by Jim and Jamie Dutcher
Helpful links I encourage you to visit:
https://www.beyondpesticides.org/
https://www.drugwatch.com/roundup/alternatives/
https://www.drugwatch.com/roundup/glyphosate/
