Natural History: From Urban to Wild

Last weekend I had a conversation about the two distinct friends' organizations that are working in Buford Park: "Friends of Mount Pisgah Arboretum" and "Friends of Buford Park/Mt. Pisgah." We discussed the different but complementary roles these two organizations play in the management of one of our favorite county parks, the Howard Buford Recreation Area. Since then I've been thinking about where Mount Pisgah fits into a bigger picture of nature appreciation. Ignoring the whole picture, the global perspective, we find a fairly complex array of natural areas from urban to wilderness just within Lane County. I like to think of Lane County as the home turf of the Eugene Natural History Society. The county line is the near boundary of our interests; the far boundary reaches to the depths of the cosmos. Our boundary line is broad.

At its nearest, home and yard is where appreciation of nature begins. Hearing birds sing before getting out of bed, and knowing which birds are singing, is the typical start of a nature lover's day. Caring for the preservation of nature around our home is a personal matter. It is a personal choice to put out bird feeders and keep the cat indoors. It is a personal choice to plant native species in our gardens. Caring for the preservation in the world at large is where organizations and agencies come in. The basic premise of environmental organizations is that each of us who loves nature has a moral obligation to protect and preserve natural areas for future generations to enjoy as we have.

I think most environmentalists think of "the wild" when asked to think of the conservation of nature. I certainly have great affection for wilderness areas, places where I can connect with the processes of nature where signs of human impact are minimal. People like me place great importance on preserving as large a swath of wilderness as our culture will allow. We know that to maximize the preservation of wilderness, we need to encourage the appreciation of nature in as wide a segment of society as possible. That so many people in our society do not appreciate nature, that so many look upon the natural world solely as a source of resources to be exploited, is a serious cultural challenge.

I believe our best hope is to educate as many as possible, by all means available, in all kinds of places. Natural areas in neighborhood parks are the true front line. Our city has an active program of habitat rehabilitation in urban parks. If people see it, they will love it, and if they love it, they will support its preservation. The work in Delta Ponds just north of Valley River Center, particularly along the riverbank bike path, is an excellent example of the kind of work that is likely to be appealing to nearly everybody. It is hard to imagine somebody pedaling down the path and not stopping to take in the beauty of these ponds.

Many private organizations are involved in the process of encouraging the love of nature. The ENHS strongly supports children's programs such as those put on by Nearby Nature in Alton Baker Park. We need to get "them" while they're young! Most schools have an outdoor education component in their curriculum, something to be encouraged. The urban natural areas are a vital resource for this element of education. I think it really helps that children can be given exposure to nature study and nature appreciation in places where they can return to walk and enjoy with their families. Here is where organizations like the Friends of Mount Pisgah Arboretum play an important role.

The Mount Pisgah Arboretum is a small part of Buford Park that is being managed for education and pleasure. People who go to walk there do so because it is simply beautiful. The organization works hard to make it so. Furthermore, the organization has placed a huge emphasis on its formal education program for children. It is a great place for nature study. The long term plans are for development as a botanical garden dedicated to trees. The goal is to create a place to come to enjoy trees from around the world in a relatively wild setting. So, the Friends of Mount Pisgah Arboretum is managing the part of Buford Park to be developed into an arboretum, to change over time, in an intense, formally organized program. Education, study, and arboriculture are high priorities.

The county manages the rest of Buford Park for recreation. The park's management plan calls for it to enhance natural features. To this end, it has entered into a cooperative relationship with the Friends of Buford Park/Mt. Pisgah. This organization has its priority set on habitat rehabilitation and preservation. Education and study are important elements, certainly, but ancillary and not primary. Love of nature comes from direct involvement with restoration and enhancement. Instead of changing Buford Park into something different, they work to return its appearance closer to what it was a hundred and fifty years ago. It is a different focus from the Arboretum's, yet entirely complementary. What each does is very important in the big picture of nature appreciation. The activities at Mount Pisgah are a bridge to activities at more distant sites. Once people learn to love nature at home and in their neighborhood parks, they will be ready to go out to regional parks like Buford Park. And then go on to the forests and hills of our public lands. And maybe, hopefully, take part in promoting the conservation of resources and preservation of wildness in the public lands.