Day 4 - Invasive Species: Project Weed-Whacker
Invasive Species problem it addresses:
This project deals with the removal of invasive plant species in El Yunque Forest.
Location at EYF:
This extraction will take place at all levels in the El Yunque Forest.
Who benefits from project: (describe)
a. EYF Animals and Plants
Animals and plants both will benefit from the removal of invasive plants as they can spread easily, take over surface area needed by plants that require that habitat and those that are part of the food chain. This problem is increased during periods following hurricane defoliation, land clearing and soil erosion and landslides. The great diversity of plant species at El Yunque can hide their presence.
b. Visitors
Visitors will benefit because the weeds that are in areas in which they should not be would be removed, allowing the original plants to flourish, and the visitors could enjoy the forest in its intended manner.
Detailed Project Description:
a. What is being created?
This project is a major "participation" project, allowing the participants to work alongside Forest Service Staff to fulfill the requirements established in the 2008 Monitoring and Evaluation Report, which indicated that manual removal and occasional chemical treatment was often needed to eliminate invasive plants.
In addition, a brochure will be developed identifying the Top 10 Invasive Plants in El Yunque Forest.
b .Describe the outcome and how it addresses the invasive plant species problem:
The removal of invasive plants will help manage the spread of invasive plants before they become overwhelming and impact the food chain. As any homeowner knows, the removal of weeds is a "back-breaking" activity, and the more individuals that can work on the problem, the more that can be accomplished.
The participants will also create a Top 10 Invasive Plant Brochure with pictures and captions. It will be given to Forest visitors. The intention of the brochure is that visitors will actually look closely at the vegetation around them while the spend time in the Forest, and upon doing so, may be able to identify locations where the invasive plants are located. They would then give their completed brochures to the Forest Service Staff at El Portal Visitor Center. This will then enable the Forest Service Staff to identify where its next efforts for the removal of invasive plants should be. In that way, each Forest visitor would actually contribute to the removal of the invasive plants.
List different parts of projects that eco-tourists will work on as teams
Each team will have a chance to do all activities:
a. Activity 1: Interview Forest Service Staff to identify the Top 10 invasive plants for inclusion in the brochure.
b. Activity 2: Create brochures in English and in Spanish, including pictures ad verbal descriptions.
c. Activity 3: Work with Forest Service Staff to remove patches of highly invasive plants throughout the Forest, making an immediate contribution to the preservation of the Forest ecosystem.
Skills used:
Computer, interview skills, hiking, horticulture, teamwork
HIGHLIGHT all that apply: (Ecology, sociology, education, economic, political)
Besides their own groups, who else will they work with?
Work with Forest Service staff for interviews, gather information, identify plants, and remove invasive plants