Presentation:

Preserving Biodiversity on a Swiftly Tilting Planet

Speaker:

Dylan Mendenhall, Principal Ecologist, Haven Ecology and Research, LLC

Dylan Mendenhall draws on over 15 years of experience in the practice and study of ecological restoration, including co-management of a small family forest. His presentation”Preserving Biodiversity on a Swiftly Tilting Planet,” further explores ecological restoration in a changing environment.

Ecological restoration often presupposes that native plant communities are a necessary foundation to support the overarching biodiversity of an ecosystem – a belief that stems in part from the assumption that native plant species are uniquely well-adapted to the local site conditions. However, as climate change continues to accelerate, some conservationists have argued that the entire concept of a “native species” is increasingly meaningless, or that the control and eradication of invasive species is rooted in xenophobia. Why do we continue to give native plants such precedence? And how do we reconcile invasive species management with the need to relocate species that are imperiled by climate change? In this talk, we will interrogate the idea of ecological restoration in the context of the climate crisis. We will also explore practical solutions for increasing the adaptive capacity of our local ecosystems without abandoning the native plants that call this place home. Finally, we will reimagine ecological restoration, not as a futile effort to reclaim the past, but as a creative process of navigating our way to the flourishing future that we all know is possible.

What is Biodiversity?

Biodiversity is the full range of life in all its forms. Biodiverse ecosystems have a high variety of plants, animals, and other organisms that interact with one another and the environment in complex and varied ways. Biodiversity measures an ecosystem’s complexity, richness, and resiliency.

Why is it Important?

Generally, biodiversity is an indicator of how healthy – or damaged – an ecosystem is. The diversity makes these ecosystems better able to adapt to environmental changes. Ecological functions like pollination, water purification, nutrient cycling, seed dispersal, pest control, climate regulation, and many more rely on biodiverse ecosystems.

Restoring Kitsap Heritage Parks’ Biodiversity

All Kitsap Heritage Parks have been logged at some point since 1853. Some have been left alone for several decades and are slowly re-naturalizing, others, like Port Gamble Forest Heritage Park face the challenge of continued logging for one more “rotation.” Can and should these parks be restored and preserved as biodiverse wildlife preserves? We’ll be discussing this controversial topic.

A newly completed trail at Port Gamble Forest Heritage Park – can biodiversity be restored?

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