Today was a great day. We got to go to the Katy Prairie Conservancy and learn all about their efforts to save the prairie. The guy we met there, Jaime, was incredibly intelligent, and a sort of role model for the kind of person I want to be in the future. He was obviously a biologist, he knew all about the different kinds of plants that were on the prairie, and how the prairie's ecology affected the world around us; but he was also a business man, buying properties and promoting the prairie in all sorts of places around Houston. He was brilliant, and some day, I hope to be someone as personable and smart as him.
When we arrived, we got a preview of what the prairie meant to Texas and how it shaped our history, and shapes our future. The soil on the prairie was so rich and deep that the settlers who arrived here used it for crops and grew tons of it until they had to build a train to export it because there was such an abundance. They over-used and abused the prairie and began over-taking it. They took more than was given to them and the prairie began loosing it's battle to survive. The prairie is an essential part of the ecosystem, it is the ecosystem. It's roots are so deep that it could control flooding when it came in, which could have helped with the recent floodings in Houston, but alas. The prairie is just so essential to the environment that we cannot let it die, and Jaime is doing all he can to not let it.
He told us about the reintroductions, reconstructions and re-establishment's he was doing for the prairie all over Houston. The park across from the zoo he actually had started a project, and in just three years it was looking like a healthy prairie should look! It's amazing the kind of diversity of plant life that the prairie has and how it brings about other animals to the park. He told us that he had a few new projects he needed help starting, so we would be collecting seeds for him.
We started off collecting a tall dry grass, that was easy because you just pulled at the top of the little tuft and if some seeds came off you were in business. But after a while, he wanted us to start collecting a flower. That was much harder. Not all the seed pods were ready yet, and it was hard to tell which would give the most seed yield. We searched around for about 20 minutes to find the perfect pod, and when we did, we found that they were practically the rarest kind. We walked through the prairie and kept collecting these pods, while Jaime told us all about the nature that was surrounding us. We found stick bugs, spiders, caterpillars, weird tasting leaves, and special kinds of fruit. It was absolutely gorgeous out there, and I was surprised that people didn't have the respect for the biodiversity that I did. Just because they are plants, doesn't mean they can't go extinct. And besides, how could you erase something from the earth that was so beautiful?
He let us go to lunch a little early and we talked about the Attawater's Prairie Chicken again. He showed us some videos and then told us about the exhibit he had had in downtown Houston for a year. And since he had let us go so early, he asked us to help him take it down. So on our way back to the zoo, we followed him to his office, got stuck in a lot of Houston traffic, and carried a variety of plants up to his office. He was very appreciative of the free labor we gave him and showed him that field work is not always in the field. It's teaching and educating the public about your projects and getting support and understanding from them to help your project earn respect and eventually proceed and succeed.
When we got back to the Zoo we journaled, which was surprisingly hard for me because I had already written most of it down here! (you're welcome ;)) We then discussed our plans for next week; on Monday we were going to Pearland to learn about the conservation work they were doing there! So as you can see, there's conservation projects not just overseas, but right next door to you! We've found about 5 in just a week, and all in our area. It's really cool to see how close to home these projects are, and it makes me hope that my future will be spent near my close family and friends. But whatever happens, I know God has great plans for me. And I can't wait to find them out.
Have a great weekend! I'll keep you up to date on my week next week!
(This post was written as if it were Friday, May 18, 2012)
No comments:
Post a Comment