North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Devin Smith <dvidedevo@yahoo.com>]

Invasive species are clearly a touchy subject. I see them as largely an 
epiphenomenon. Why aren't apple trees considered to displace native species? 
They have naturalized heavily here in New England. Could it be that we deem 
it of value and therefore are willing to overlook its "impacts". As I 
understand it, roughly 40% of all wildflower species in the northeast are 
naturalized "invaders", and yet they seem to form stable populations and to 
interact with the native vegetation in synergistic rather than destructive 
ways. Isn't there likely a time factor at work? If the dandelion arrived 
tomorrow instead of 350 years ago, how would we react? 


Historically, here in New England, two centuries of clear cutting and grazing 
were followed by a century of chemical warfare against nearly all shrubs, 
causing population viability of many shrub species to decline precipitously. 
We have a cultural opposition to shrubby growth habit and shrub land 
environments, thus a tendency to see shrubs of all kinds as damaging. 
Ecological succession itself is considered a nuisance or plague by many. In 
this era, when succession is happening on a mass scale-- as cleared land 
reverts to forested land-- its inevitable that shrubs will have a dominate 
influence. 


I understand that economic harm and changes in species dynamics result (at 
least in the short term) but I think that those concerned with invasive 
species should consider what it is they are opposing. How about the habitat 
fragmentation that results from our network of paved roads-- an ecosystem in 
the truest sense, but merely one conceived without regard for ecology. Isn't 
this now ubiquitously fragmented disturbed aspect of the American landscape 
more at the root than merely the species who choose to call that landscape 
home. 


I can appreciate the need to consider the matter of potential to naturalize, 
but given that Autumn Olive is nearly ubiquitous here (in the northeast) now, 
I see no need to hold back planting it, nor its next of kin. Nor do I think 
it is possible to eradicate it in our landscape. In fact, I am actively 
seeking to plant it in part because I am sure that some day soon the roadside 
one's I have been harvesting will all be nuked with herbicide, otherwise I 
would just keep picking those. As ecologically conscious individuals, I think 
we should attempt first and fore most to make an honest assessment of what 
healthy landscapes actually consist of and put our efforts primarily into 
helping ecosystems thrive all around us. Nature does not consist solely of 
the rare, the adorable, and the immense, but its also the common, the hidden, 
and the unvalued. If we aren't creating health and resilience in our own 
environment, how can we suppose to act beneficially in the
 larger realm of ecology?

I understand that passions run high around these issues, and its not my goal 
to be divisive. However, other views around "invasive" species seem to often 
to be lacking despite the fact that many intelligent and ecologically minded 
individuals seem to share these views. I offer them up humbly for your 
consideration.

-Devin Smith
Rockingham, VT
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Hello Devin,
      That is a very thought provoking and well considered letter.  =
Thanks.  I don't know if you have seen some of the articles on the =
benefits of Autumn olive that have been written in the past.  I also =
continue to grow them in my orchard both for the fruit and their =
nitrogen fixing capability.  They are a pioneer species, that is their =
role in their native land.  Gravel beds, stream banks places where few =
things will grow.  With their nitrogen rising capability, they improve =
the soil until trees will grow.  That can take quite a long time, I =
would guess easily 50-100 years.  But the trees will eventually shade =
out the autumn olive.  Again, a long process.  We tend to think short =
term, maybe because of our life span. =20
     With a good crop of apples last year we made some wonderful fruit =
leather using autumn olive in the applesauce.  Sold very quickly at the =
farmer's market.  We've made a wonderful jam just boiling down the =
fruit, no sugar added.  The USDA in Beltsville did a study of the =
nutritional content and we're very impressed.  I could dig out those =
results if anyone is interested.
      All of which is not to say that Autumn olive is not invasive.  =
I've seen it take over an un-mowed field.  We mow our hayfields and the =
rows between the trees in the orchard.  The foliage is highly =
nutritious, on a par with alfalfa.
      Thanks for your post.  If you or any other Nafexers are anywhere =
near, you'd be welcome to see the orchard.  Autumn olive and Chinese =
chestnut was a particularly fine combination.  Those chestnuts tend to =
be kind of shrubby, branching low.  Ours usually have clear 8' trunks, =
some higher, excellent for timber.
         Hector Black, zone 6 middle tn


On Mar 30, 2014, at 10:15 PM, Devin Smith wrote:

> Invasive species are clearly a touchy subject. I see them as largely =
an epiphenomenon. Why aren't apple trees considered to displace native =
species? They have naturalized heavily here in New England. Could it be =
that we deem it of value and therefore are willing to overlook its =
"impacts". As I understand it, roughly 40% of all wildflower species in =
the northeast are naturalized "invaders", and yet they seem to form =
stable populations and to interact with the native vegetation in =
synergistic rather than destructive ways. Isn't there likely a time =
factor at work? If the dandelion arrived tomorrow instead of 350 years =
ago, how would we react?=20
>=20
>=20
> Historically, here in New England, two centuries of clear cutting and =
grazing were followed by a century of chemical warfare against nearly =
all shrubs, causing population viability of many shrub species to =
decline precipitously. We have a cultural opposition to shrubby growth =
habit and shrub land environments, thus a tendency to see shrubs of all =
kinds as damaging. Ecological succession itself is considered a nuisance =
or plague by many. In this era, when succession is happening on a mass =
scale-- as cleared land reverts to forested land-- its inevitable that =
shrubs will have a dominate influence.=20
>=20
>=20
> I understand that economic harm and changes in species dynamics result =
(at least in the short term) but I think that those concerned with =
invasive species should consider what it is they are opposing. How about =
the habitat fragmentation that results from our network of paved roads-- =
an ecosystem in the truest sense, but merely one conceived without =
regard for ecology. Isn't this now ubiquitously fragmented disturbed =
aspect of the American landscape more at the root than merely the =
species who choose to call that landscape home.=20
>=20
>=20
> I can appreciate the need to consider the matter of potential to =
naturalize, but given that Autumn Olive is nearly ubiquitous here (in =
the northeast) now, I see no need to hold back planting it, nor its next =
of kin. Nor do I think it is possible to eradicate it in our landscape. =
In fact, I am actively seeking to plant it in part because I am sure =
that some day soon the roadside one's I have been harvesting will all be =
nuked with herbicide, otherwise I would just keep picking those. As =
ecologically conscious individuals, I think we should attempt first and =
fore most to make an honest assessment of what healthy landscapes =
actually consist of and put our efforts primarily into helping =
ecosystems thrive all around us. Nature does not consist solely of the =
rare, the adorable, and the immense, but its also the common, the =
hidden, and the unvalued. If we aren't creating health and resilience in =
our own environment, how can we suppose to act beneficially in the
> larger realm of ecology?
>=20
> I understand that passions run high around these issues, and its not =
my goal to be divisive. However, other views around "invasive" species =
seem to often to be lacking despite the fact that many intelligent and =
ecologically minded individuals seem to share these views. I offer them =
up humbly for your consideration.
>=20
> -Devin Smith
> Rockingham, VT
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