Planting Change: My Semester as an Invasive Species Intern. by Indi
December 27, 2024
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Author: Indi Richardson
Fall 2024 Sustainability Team Cohort
Major: Environmental Studies
Graduate Date: Class of 2025
My experience as an Invasive Species Intern this semester has been transformative, and it has allowed me to gain knowledge in the field of conservation that I will carry with me through the future. I spent a large part of my internship working in Purchase College’s Blind Brook Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) plot near the front of campus. This area was previously forest that was disturbed due to Broadview’s construction of a sewer line, which created a cut through the area. My fellow interns and I were largely responsible for planting native species there to restore the cut to forest. This work was not easy- we spent hours tending to plants in our Native Plant Garden, physically removing invasive species that started to grow in the restoration area, digging holes to plant natives, and watering and mulching the newly planted natives. Regardless of the long hours, this experience was invaluable as it provided me the opportunity to engage in hands-on conservation efforts at Purchase. My restoration involvement allowed me to give back to the land while simultaneously strengthening my conservation knowledge. I am confident that students will continue to monitor the restoration plot so that one day it will return to a healthy forest that can resist invasion.
One of the most formative experiences of my internship was a project focused on looking into tree tags for our forests. This project required me to identify and survey trees along the Alumni Woods trail and the Blind Brook DEC trail, so that in the near future, educational tree tags can be placed along them. To develop an idea of how many trees of each species would require tree tags required me to identify each tree along the trails. I had gone into this internship with some knowledge of tree identification, but this project encouraged me to build up my identification skills, which have since served me in my Environmental Studies coursework.
Most recently, I have been focused on researching Beech Leaf Disease (BLD) to come up with a management plan for beech stands on campus. BLD is a disease caused by a microscopic nematode which infects the leaves of beech trees and eventually kills them. Most if not all of the beech trees on our campus are infected by the disease. Although there is no known cure, I have engaged in research and webinars to develop a plan for restoration. I have found that it may be beneficial to plant other native trees to increase the biodiversity of our forests and restore the thinning canopy of beech stands.
Through this internship, I have developed fundamental skills that have helped me grow as an individual, academic, and environmental practitioner. As I finish off my senior year at Purchase, I hope to continue contributing to sustainability and the well being of students, faculty, and staff on campus. I also hope that I have made a positive impact on our land. Additionally, as I continue through my academic journey, I am sure that my research, restoration, tree identification, sustainability and conservation skills will serve me in my future endeavors.