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Lately I have been so inspired by the podcasts I listen to and the webinars I have been attending. If you don't listen already I highly recommend the podcasts, Green Dreamer and Future Ecologies. I have been taking more time to study my surroundings when I am hiking, to ask questions, to be more present. Yesterday I went out and did an activity called a Multi-Sensory Map, which is intended to help connect both your senses and sense of place.
I walked out the driveway of where I am living, and there was a four wheel looking trail leading up to the hills , so I decided to follow that. The trail quickly became steep as I hiked on a good incline and noticed a lot of broom (an invasive plant), and when I say a lot I mean, it was everywhere I could see, smothering the native plants like salal and oregon grape. As I continued, I noticed on either side of the trail cones protecting new saplings of I am not sure what tree, there were quite a lot scattered on the hillside below me and above. The area with where I stood was very open, leaving only a few single trees, one of which was a veteran red cedar, that provided several cavity nesting holes.
The understory had many young trees, soaking up the sun in the open canopy. Further ahead I saw beautiful arbutus trees, and heard crunched frozen maple leaves as I walked, this sound caused me to look down and I noticed deer prints. Nearby I could hear an upset squirrel, some birds chirping, and the deafening sound of far away cars. The path opened up to train tracks, covered in broom, moss and even some mushrooms. The tracks crossed a flowing stream where there were two culverts, and as I looked to my left from where I stood I could see a much denser forest and ferns hugging the stream and to my right I overlooked vast valleys and rolling hills, a patchwork of deforested areas. I continued along and saw some rock faces covered in different shapes and sizes of moss, I could feel my nose getting cold as the sunset.
It made me happy to be outside and thankful to be where I am, yet I couldn’t help feeling a sense of loss and sadness. I could tell this ecosystem was not in the best state but was still doing its best. The degradation and disturbance from all the trails and train tracks, has caused an explosion of broom. Which has completely taken over the natives, the old trees have been cut, leaving only saplings and small intermediate trees. I could see there was a lack of biodiversity, I did not see many nursery logs, and the lack of bigger trees meant there was not much support for the soil. Since coming to Vancouver Island, I have never before witnessed such destruction of the land, everywhere I look I see vast sections of the land removed, and in its wasteland only invasive species and silence. It really is heartbreaking, and very eye opening. The impacts of removing ancient cedars and other veteran trees, is far reaching, it has damaging ripple effects into the soil, water regime, and habitat for species. And yet, the spaces I visit and get to know also inspire me, nature is resilient and seeing little mushrooms pop up through rock, seeing the diversity of moss, gives me hope. We still have so much to learn from nature, and still so much to learn from Indigenous people who have long been stewards of the land. I am excited to keep growing and learning, and to continue having much needed conversations on conservation, sustainability, and Indigenous ways of being and knowing with others. To continue sharing knowledge and inspiring others to seek out opportunities to be inspired.
