When the fourth and fifth graders at the Peaks Island Elementary School were asked by City of Portland Arborist Jeff Tarling to list some invasive plant species found on Peaks Island students quickly raised their hands to list the six most wanted invasive species: Japanese Knotweed, Oriental Bittersweet, Japanese Barberry, Black Swallow-wort, Norway Maple and Multi Flora Rose.
Oceanside Conservation Trust of Casco Bay, an all volunteer non-profit land trust conserving land on the islands of western Casco Bay, received a grant from the Peaks Island Fund of the Maine Community Foundation, to help spread awareness regarding the threats associated with invasive plant species on Peaks Island. The Peaks Island Elementary School and the Peaks Island Academy, a private high school on the island, are working with Oceanside Conservation Trust (OCT) and the Island Institute’s Peaks Island Environmental Action Fellow, a program partially funded through AmeriCorps, to increase awareness of the problems associated with invasive species and the best methods for removing and controlling their distribution in the entire island community resulting in an overall healthier ecosystem.
Jeff Tarling also visited with the students.
“The Peaks Island Fund Advisors were very excited to consider and provide funding for such an innovative community effort. We are very hopeful to see a terrific collaboration formed between Oceanside and the students at the Peaks Island Schools, potentially creating both an extraordinary learning opportunity for the kids and establishing sustainable knowledge for the island about identification and management of invasive species” said Perry Sutherland the Peaks Island Fund chair.
This one year program will help to connect the students to a local, hands-on problem that will result in a better understanding of island ecology, plant identification, basic scientific methods, computer mapping skills and other important learning outcomes appropriate for their grade level.
“Additionally, we will work toward our ongoing global goal of having our students adopt an attitude of stewardship for their home place, Peaks Island,” explained Cindy Nilsen, principal at Peaks Island Elementary School.
“Island communities provide ideal locales for creating models for effective learning partnerships,” said Jessica Burton, Executive Director for the Southern Maine Conservation Collaborative. The Collaborative has been hired by OCT to coordinate this program with its intricate schedule and diverse partnership. As a service center for conservation organizations, the Collaborative provides staff support to otherwise all volunteer organizations such as OCT. “This project will have a lasting impact on the students and the natural environment of Peaks Island, while holding great potential for building similar projects in other communities in southern Maine. Sadly, invasive species management is a growing concern all over the region.”
To date, the students at the Peaks Island Elementary School have created a list of the “most wanted” invasive plants on Peaks Island while working with Bob Bittenbender, a board member of OCT and the Property Manager of Maine Audubon’s Gilsland Farm Property. Bittenbender visited the school for two days recently to help students develop an understanding of the damage these invasive plant species cause and the importance of having a plan to manage invasives.
In the coming months, the Peaks Island Elementary School will present the “most wanted” list to the Peaks Island Academy in order to help increase awareness of this problem. The students will also work to create a campaign to promote awareness, eradication, and management among the island community. With continued help from Jeff Tarling, the Peaks Island Elementary School will map the location of the invasive plants on their playground. The Peaks Island Elementary School and the Peaks Island Academy will work together to map a greater area around the island, outside of the playground.
“By getting people to know what plants are out there we can start working on control” said City Arborist Jeff Tarling. He also reminded the students that “when looking for invasive species, also look for natives.”
Bob Bittenbender teaches the Peaks Island kids about Invasive Plant Species.