Scotch Broom was introduced to the U.S. in the 1800s as an ornamental shrub from Europe, where in its native habitat insects keep it in check. This fast-growing species has spread along the east coast and throughout the Pacific Northwest, invading rangeland and hillsides.

Gorse is a spiny plant also native to Europe, where it has been cultivated as a hedgerow. It has displaced many native plants on the Oregon coast, and creates an extreme fire danger due to the oily seeds and leaves.
English Ivy is a climbing vine that tolerates shady areas, suffocating trees and forming a ground cover that discourages native diversity.

And there are Nutria, large rodents indigenous to South America, abounding along Oregon’s waterways, and the opossum, a marsupial related to kangaroos, introduced a century ago. For a list of the 100 most dangerous invaders link to: http://www.oregon.gov/OISC/most_dangerous.shtml

But the most devastating invaders are environmentally irresponsible specimens of the human variety. Like English Ivy, this species will invade and disturb ecosystems that have existed in harmony for millennia. Precious nutrients are withdrawn from the environment to supply energy for unsustainable practices that leave a bleak landscape and a crippled economy. The intruder may attempt to recreate an asphalt jungle of condominiums and big-box stores. This noxious pest will occasionally travel in packs to voting booths to dismantle historic land-use legislation.

And yet, Oregon remains a sculpture fired by searing volcanism and cooled by streaming water, to create an enigma turned skyward like the faces of Easter Island. Within this wonder and majesty we follow in the footsteps of Oregon Trail pioneers. From Crater Lake to Mt. Hood, from the ocean beaches to the snow of the Steen’s Mountains, let the transformation unfold. Enter the state of mind we call an Oregonian.

This entry was posted on Monday, August 14th, 2006 at 8:13 pm and is filed under Economy, Environment, General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.