‘Ye olde’ ecologist stresses understanding, appreciation

A Letter to Amanda Moore:

Amanda, although we have never met, I want you to know that I feel your pain! I, too, was devastated when that beautiful 90-year-old red oak tree was removed. In fact, I stopped in the middle of the road, staring in shock at the devastation and soon had tears streaming from my eyes. What a magnificent tree it was! Red oaks can live hundreds of years, and that one would have been around long after the new convocation center had fallen into ruin.

We all understand the rationale for its removal - space was needed for our new convocation center, and there was concern about damage to the root system of the tree if the building had been built around it. Besides, we have been told that more “trees” will be planted in its place. What most developers don’t understand and appreciate is the concept of “old growth” forests that have been around for hundreds, even thousands of years.

There are stages of ecological succession that land passes through that ultimately lead to a stable ecosystem. With each stage the composition of flora and fauna changes as new and different species invade the area. This process takes hundreds of years, assuming that the area is left untouched by humans. With each human intervention, the process must begin all over again.

Granted, we are talking about only one tree in this instance, but I wanted everyone to understand how very special that tree was. It was here long before any of us arrived on this planet, and it would have been here long after we all go to heaven. Such a sacrifice was made to provide a much needed building for our campus, and I appreciate that, especially for Dick Major and Alice Anthony who desperately need the space.

So what is my “take home” message?

Be good stewards of God’s creations as you go through life, and appreciate the beauty and diversity of life that He has given us. Never take for granted that it is “just a tree.” Each species plays an integral and useful role in our beautiful world whether that role is to provide us with oxygen and shade - in the case of a single tree - or to provide us with incredible beauty in our environment.

Ye Olde Ecologist,
Dr. Julie Wade
Professor of Biology