Clemson s Native Tree Educational Arboretum

Transcription

1 Clemson s Native Tree Educational Arboretum Turning an overlooked habitat into an educational resource. Karen Vaughn This project is designed to address both an ecological and a cultural issue. The ecological problem is the loss of native habitat caused by the spread of invasive plants. Invasive species pose a threat to biodiversity worldwide, and the Clemson University campus is no exception. Most of the fragments of forest scattered between buildings and parking lots are dominated by non-native plants, such as privet, silverthorn, and honeysuckle. The cultural issue being addressed is the loss of connection between people and the natural world. Ecosystems are becoming increasingly fragmented and degraded, and with this the bar is being steadily lowered for people s concept of wild or natural. Small forest fragments are not in themselves hugely significant in an ecological sense. They are disconnected from ecosystem processes and likely to remain that way. However, people have become so accustomed to seeing landscapes like this that many do not even realize that they are degraded. Also, sites like this are nearly impenetrable, and they are largely ignored and unused by students and the public. Even small forest patches could be used to encourage engagement with nature, and they represent an excellent opportunity for education. I propose that Clemson s Department of Forestry and Natural Resources undertake a project in which a forest fragment is treated for invasive plants and converted into an arboretum specifically designed to help people learn to identify native trees. People are more likely to care about something they understand, and recognizing native trees will encourage people to be more concerned about the fate of our forests. It would be specifically designed for students taking Clemson s dendrology class, would provide access to specimens of many of the trees they need to learn, allowing students to compare and contrast features of similar species. This project would offer several answers to the stated problems. The presence of invasive plants on Clemson s campus would be reduced. The project would also take a piece of the campus that currently has no real use for students and turn it into an educational opportunity. Every student taking dendrology, which is about 70 per year, would potentially develop a connection to the site. It would also give students a chance to gain experience with invasive plant identification and control, which is a skill that could help then enter the work force in resources management. This project will support Clemson University s commitment to sustainability and sustainable natural resources by creating habitat for native plants and animals and by providing a place for people to learn about native trees. While this restoration project is small-scale and does not address landscape-level issues, it has the advantage of restoring a site for a specific purpose that will encourage people to engage with it. Also, it is relatively low-cost and could potentially be funded from a single grant or donation.

2 Project Summary Site Location The project site is located at the southeast end of the Clemson University campus, next to the C-1 parking area. The yellow polygon marks the boundary of the site, which is approximately 10 acres. The blue line represents a small stream. Site Conditions A walk-through of the site found a largely impenetrable understory made up primarily of the following invasive plants: honeysuckle, privet, silverthorn, English ivy, kudzu, nandina, and multiflora rose. However, there is a relatively high diversity of native trees, including red maple, juniper, white oak, hornbeam, cherry, beech, boxelder, tulip poplar, and elm. The streambanks show some erosion, and invasive species may be providing significant erosion control.

3 A wall of invasives blocking access Erosion of the streambank Sample of interpretive signs for Arboretum

4 Objectives 1. Establish an Arboretum that contains at least 20 different species of trees that are native to South Carolina and required for Clemson s Dendrology class. 2. Reduce the percent cover of invasive plants by at least 80 percent. 3. Educate students and the public on invasive plants and involve them in invasive plant control 4. Improve access to the site 5. Create a site that is appealing and frequently visited. Methods for Achieving Objectives This project will be initiated as a creative inquiry for three students directed by a willing professor in FNR. One student will oversee the growing and planting of tree seedlings. Another will oversee the invasive plant control. The third student will be responsible for the overall design of the site, including layout of trails, signs, and plantings. These students would likely come from the FNR, Environmental Horticulture, and Planning and Landscape Architecture departments. The Arboretum component will begin by labeling the native tree species already present in the site with informative signs that will assist with identification. The first plantings will be done in the grassy area alongside the parking lot where invasive plant control will not occur. After the first round of herbicide treatments have been performed, shade tolerant seedlings can be planted in the forested area. Grassy area where initial tree plantings will occur. The invasive plant control will consist of a combination of chemical and mechanical methods. An area will be set aside for volunteers who prefer not to work with chemicals. The first round of chemical control will be performed using the cut stump method (5) where shrubs and vines are cut with loppers and saws and the stumps treated with concentrated herbicide. Any

5 treatments done near the steam will use an herbicide approved for aquatic use. There is some concern that removal of exotics from the streambank could lead to erosion, so a buffer will initially be left. The cut stump treatment will be followed up with a backpack sprayer treatment to control smaller plants. The stream buffer will be gradually removed over several years, and rehabilitated using willow cuttings. Student participation will be guaranteed by making it a requirement assignment for Dendrology class. The labor of seedling planting and watering and invasive plant control will be entirely performed by students. While they may begin the work as reluctant recruits, many will find the work interesting and want to be further involved. Once you have spent a few good hours killing invasive plants, it is hard not to feel some connection to the site and desire to keep the invasives from coming back. Also, once you learn to identify common exotics, you start to notice them everywhere and gain understanding of the extent of the problem. While the initial control work should be widely advertised, public participation is much more likely once the Arboretum has been established and people begin visiting the site. Tree planting tends to be a favorite activity of volunteers and almost guarantees a feeling of satisfaction. People may find themselves going back to the site to check on their seedlings. Access to the site will be greatly improved by the reduction of invasive plant cover. Also, crossing the stream needs to be made easier. This will be accomplished, if possible, by digging a small section of trail and putting in stepping stones. However, if water levels are too variable, a small bridge may be required. Once access is provided, it is essential to encourage use of the site. If people do not visit the Arboretum, then the project is not a success. A visitor map will be created that shows where to locate each tree species on the site. Dendrology and botany students will use the site for labs, and hopefully on their own as a study aid. Public school science classes might also use the site if it is well advertised. Hosting various public events in the site will help make it more widely known. Mapping and Monitoring The boundary of the site will be mapped using a GPS unit. All trees of pole size (5 diameter at breast height) or larger will be mapped by species to determine which species are already present for the Arboretum. Permanent photo-documentation points will be established to capture both the vegetation and the streambed. A list of invasive species present will be compiled, with each assigned a visually estimated percent cover for the site. Any non-native plant that is listed by the South Carolina Exotic Pest Plant Council will be documented and treated. Permanent transects with a series of quadrats will be established to measure the effectiveness of invasive species control. Transects will be read before any treatments are done, annually during the three years of the project, and every three years subsequently. Visitor use will need to be monitored, possibly by observation and encouraging visitors to sign a guestbook.

6 Schedule Year 1 Spring: Planning by professor directing the project, recruiting of Creative Inquiry students Summer: Survey and assess site, order seedlings for first planting, design and order informational signs for present and desired tree species, establish photo-monitoring Fall: Install vegetation monitoring transects, cut-stump treatment of invasive shrubs and vines, plant and mulch tree seedlings, install cages to protect from herbivory, establish watering regime, seed collection for future plantings, backpack sprayer treatment in late fall Fall or Spring: Locate and collect cuttings of native willow, cottonwood, and possibly birch (9), soak cuttings, plant on sections of streambank with exposed soil Winter: Prepare collected seeds for planting stratification, etc., research and planning for stream crossing or footbridge Year 2 Spring/Summer: Re-take monitoring photos, survey monitoring transects, record seedling survival, perform a second round of herbicide treatments, order seedlings, plant collected seeds Fall: Plant seedlings in forested area, install signs, seed collection trip if needed, continue gradual removal of invasives along streambank and replanting with cuttings Fall and Winter: Build stream crossing, create visitor map, install station with guestbook and visitor maps Year 3 Plant seedlings, update maps, continue monitoring, invasive plant control and streambank stabilization as needed, assess methods and determine if adaptation is needed Site matintenance, inclduing invasive platn control, will be needed indefinitely. Proposed Budget Total: $4,828 Backpack sprayers (3@$92): $276 Backpack sprayer vests (3@$52): $156 Sprayer repair kit and spare parts: $101 Safety gear (glasses, work gloves, nitrile gloves): $240 Herbicide concentrate (7.5 gallons): $368 (based on average cost of several herbicides) Marking dye (2 pints): $50 Surfactant (1 gallon): $30 Tools (loppers, clippers, hand saws, shovels): $500 Sundries (containers, garbage bags, spill mats, etc.) $300 Equipment total: $2,021

7 Nursery seedlings (50): $600 (based on average of different species) Hardware net (for tree cages): $17 Potting soil (12.5 cu. ft): $40 Mulch (10 cu. ft): $50 Planting total: $707 Signs (x25): $550 Sign mounts and hardware: $100 Travel (seed collection, seedling pick up, etc): $500 Unexpected expenses: $1,000 Other total: $1,100 It may be possible to borrow some of these supplies from maintenance and other departments at Clemson to lower costs. If it is decided that a footbridge is required, this could raise costs significantly. References for cost estimate: (2,3,6,8) Other Planning Considerations (1) Identify the need for restoration The understory of this site is almost completely dominated by non-native invasive plants. This reduces habitat for native species and limits access to the site. While Clemson already has an Arboretum, it is not ideal for Dendrology students because it is focused on ornamental species, is not walking distance from campus, and has limited hours of access. Identify the kind of ecosystem to be restored and the type of restoration project This project is not attempting to restore the site to historic conditions. Some of the tree species planted, while native to South Carolina, will not be specific to this area. The removal of invasive plants should allow for the recruitment of native species. Identify project funding sources Clemson University and the FNR Department would provide some of the funding. It may also be possible to secure grants, such as the Science Fund Grant through the Society of American Foresters which includes an education component. Another fund raising possibility would be to set up a program where people can donate money to designate a memorial tree. Identify the need for securing permits required by government agencies The primary regulations that will affect this project are the Clean Water Act and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. Both of these regulations will be met by following the label instructions for any herbicides used. OSHA standards for storage and labeling of chemicals will also have to be followed. While the Endangered Species Act can apply to

8 herbicide applications, it is highly unlikely that this site contains any endangered plants. Before digging for tree plantings, SC811 must be called to request that utility lines be located. Gather pertinent auto-ecological information for key species Miller s Invasive Plants in Southern Forests (5) will be used as the primary reference for invasive species. It provides recommendations for type of herbicide, and application method and timing for the major invasive species of the region. Research will need to be done on habitat requirements of the tree species desired for the Arboretum, so that each will be planted in the location where it is most likely to survive. Some investigation of water levels will need to be done to assess options for a stream crossing. References 1. Clewell, Andre, John Reiger, and John Munro. Society for Ecological Restoration International: Guidelines for Developing and Managing Ecological Restoration Projects, 2nd Edition. Society for Ecological Restoration International. Dec April < 2. Forestry Suppliers Inc. 5 April < 3. Interpretive Nature and Environmental Signs. David Arthur. 1 April April < 4. IPM North Carolina. Federal Pesticide Laws and Regulations. NC State University. 4 April < 5. Miller, James H Nonnative invasive plants of southern forests: a field guide for identification and control. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-62. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station. 93p. 6. South Carolina Forestry Commission Seedlings Sales USDA Forest Service. 2 April Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council. April 2011 Version 4. Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health. 4 April 2011 < 8. The Home Depot Homer TLC Inc. April < 9. Tilley, Derek and J. Chris Hoag. Evaluation of fall versus spring planting of dormant hardwood willow cuttings with and without soaking treatment Plant Materials Program Natural Resources Conservation Service. 5 April <