Reviving Winthrop’s Native Ecosystem

Purpose

While much of the focus is on the potential extinction of large mammal species, such as the Northern White Rhino or Pygmy Hippopotamus, a broader ecological collapse has been gaining speed in the background. In a single lifetime, it is estimated that the global population of insects has declined by at least 75%, with some areas experiencing more than a 90% loss. Meanwhile, the global bird population has decreased by an estimated 2.9 billion birds, or roughly 1 in 4 birds.

While there are many causes for these catastrophic losses, one large and largely ignored problem is the loss of native habitat for many creatures.

And what is “native habitat? When we talk about native habitat, we are talking about the climate, plants, animals, and organisms that a creature has evolved alongside for thousands or millions of years. While many creatures are generalists, and can eat various foods, and live and breed in various climates and ecosystems, many more are specialists, relying on only a few, or maybe even one, species of plant or animal either to eat or to breed. A famous example is the Monarch Butterfly, which will only lay it’s eggs on the leaves of a milkweed plant because that is the only plant it’s caterpillars will eat. Monarchs are a milkweed specialist, and a decline in the availability of Milkweed has in part led to a massive decrease in the Monarch population.

This story is happening millions of times a day for millions of species around the world. As native plants are ripped out and replaced with developments, parking lots, or even other non-native species of ornamental plants, the native animals and insects are losing their sources of food, shelter, and breeding conditions. To make matters worse, introduced invasive species of plants are outcompeting native species for what little wild space remains, while invasive insects and diseases kill off masses of important species of plants, such as the effective wild extinction of what was once one of the most abundant and ecologically important species of tree on the east coast; the American Chestnut.

This graph shows the total biomass of insects collected by scientists using the same method 24 years apart. They found a 78% decline in insects over 24 years

So what can we do?

The most immediately impactful thing that we can do as individuals is to build an ARK (Act of Restorative Kindness) for our imperiled native species. This simply means planting more native plants, less exotic plants, and removing invasive species. If many of us in Winthrop can turn our lawns and gardens into genuine habitat for many of our native creatures, we can revive their dwindling populations and create a safe haven within an increasingly hostile world. This is an idea similar to the “Homegrown National Park” project popularized by Doug Tallamy, conservationist and author of “Nature's Best Hope”.

Where to start

Start by getting in contact with me! My name is Drew and I live in the Cottage Park area. I have been ramping up for this project by growing and collecting seeds of some of the most beautiful and ecologically impactful native flowers and trees in our region. My catalogue is small but growing. And I'm giving it all away for free! Cost should not be a prohibiting factor if you are trying to restore the earth. Some examples of what I currently have to offer:

Seeds:

  • Various species of Goldenrod

  • Various species of Aster (including New England Aster, the most beautiful native flower in my opinion)

  • Black-eyed Susans

  • Milkweed

  • Sunflower

  • Paper Birch

  • Red Oak

  • Eastern Hemlock

  • Northern Whitecypress

  • Boxelder

  • Red Mulberry

  • and more!

Plants :

  • Various species of Maple

  • Red Oak

  • Green Ash

  • Grey Dogwood

  • And more!

I will germinating many seeds and will have small starter plants for many of the species of flowers coming this Spring!

Late fall is the best time to plant most of the seeds! So if you are interested in some free seeds or plants, have any questions, or even want to help in any way, please reach out! I look forward to hearing from you.

You can text me at:

(617) 329-5307

Or send me an email at:

nativerevivalwinthrop@gmail.com

This graph shows the change in overall population of different types of birds in the past ~50. Most species have seen a sharp decline in population.