My response is that, they themselves are exotic species to this continent
and that if exotic plants are the number two cause of species extinction
then surely the number one cause is exotic humans. For starters, at least
half of our agriculture consists of exotic plants including the soy bean
which many vegetarians take some ethical refuge in for eating.
What should we address foremost, our behavior or the exotic plants that have
exscape our grasp?
It also seems to me that, the areas hardest hit by all exotic species are
disturbed edges, e.g. road ways, developments butted up to woodlands or
prairies, man made lakes and waterways, etc. It's quite possible, when
looking through another set of lenses that, these exotic plants are the
beginning of natural succession rather than the end of it. I've heard first
hand accounts of red maple, birch and oak coming up under tallow stands.
A frutivery study done in Louisiana also revealed that the tallow tree was
on the top of the list as a food source for birds and more species of birds
ate from tallow than most other trees. How else would it get around so
well?
So what it comes down to is one's paradigm. How do we regard and treat
other life forms? Do we wage a gene cleansing campaign against "exotic"
plants and usr fossil fuels to push down trees, pull down vines and pay
Monsanto for round-up to apply on Johnson and Bermuda grass? Since the
plants are here do they have the right to stay, as we have surely given
ourselves that right, even though they may cause some species losses?
Is
Nature actually using these plants to guide our ecosystems towards greater
stability and diversity?
I don't know about others on this list, but my arm gets heavier and heavier
every time I raise it to cut a tree... any tree.
Kirby Fry
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