At Carse Wetlands in Hinesburg, UVM students are working to restore the landscape by testing methods of invasive species removal. These students are a part of the second cohort of the Fellowship in Restoration Ecologies and Cultures (FREC). With the first semester completed, the students are finalizing their projects that will attempt to restore an aspect of the Carse ecosystem.
“We definitely see the coverage of Japanese honeysuckle, barberry and buckthorn very much along the forest edges and that’s definitely our area of focus because of how bad it really is,” said Amelia Betz, a fellow in FREC. The out-of-control growth of invasive shrubs, especially Japanese honeysuckle, is one of the biggest problems for Carse today.
At Carse there is a transitional zone between the cattail marsh and the forested area, called the shrubland. “Birders in the area and ornithologists, including the Audubon, have identified the shrub layer as a really important shrub layer to migratory warblers that are spending the summer in Vermont,” said Professor Amy Seidl, co-founder of FREC.
“The invasive shrub species don’t provide nutritious food for birds, and they take over the native shrubs that do provide nutritious food and habitat…it also just decreases the diversity of the area because the invasive species take over,” said Kaylee Baker, a fellow in FREC. These warblers rely on fruit from native shrubs, but when berries from invasive shrubs dominate the natives, warbler populations will decline, according to Seidl.
Invasive shrubs not only impact birds, but also the human community. “Connection to nature is very important and having natural spaces to go to makes people care about them more. So, if invasive species are taking over and decreasing the biodiversity, then we don’t have the same place to go to,” said Baker.
So how are the students in FREC planning to solve such a large problem in Carse?
According to Betz, they have a plan to create an experiment for testing honeysuckle removal techniques in the spring. The students plan on creating experimental plots along the forest edge. One type of plot will be left alone to act as a control; one will have invasive shrub removal; one will have invasive shrub removal plus the introduction of the native red osier dogwood shrub; and one will have no invasive shrub removal, but it will have native shrub introduction. These four types of plots will be replicated three times for a total of 12 plots.
The students will be creating and monitoring these plots and collecting information throughout April. “The plan for future cohorts, like for next year’s cohort, is to be able to monitor the plots from last year like we will be doing, but also monitor our plots and be able to implement a greater invasive removal project hopefully,” said Betz.
In December the students presented their project ideas to professionals and stakeholders at Carse, outside of the UVM community. “It elevates and it challenges them to do their best work… and it always makes for better projects in the end,” said Seidl.
Through FREC, students get to learn about the environment but also develop professional skills and connections to the land through hands-on work that makes a difference.
“I think learning about the environment can be very hard when it doesn’t feel like you can do anything about it,” said Baker. “This class gives us an opportunity to do something.”
Carse Wetlands is a 255-acre natural area located in Hinesburg, next to and east of Baldwin Road. In 2013, this land was acquired by the University of Vermont as a donation from the Carse family. Carse Wetlands has been designated as a UVM natural area, with the help of Vermont Land Trust.
This natural area is made up of a mix of former agricultural fields, forests and wetlands. Carse is home to a wide range of plant and animal species, but it’s also open for public use. A trail system through the forest, including a boardwalk leading out to the wetland, has been developed for the public to enjoy.
