Interviewing Important People In My Life

         This week I will be talking about the opinions of different people in my personal life.

               I interviewed a variety of people at my workplace.  Some of them knew quite a bit about the invasive species, while others had less understanding of them but had heard that they were a growing problem.  One person I talked to had an interesting perspective on milfoil.  He said that even though it was affecting our water quality, it was also providing a few people with jobs.  Though he was joking, there is some truth in that.  People are getting jobs on cleaning crews who are trying to get ilfoil out of our lakes and rivers.  Some people are also working at manned boat washing stations.
          Another person I interviewed knew about some of the invasive animals like zebra mussels.  While those are a big problem that needs to be addressed, my focus right now is on Invasive plants.  She also knew about milfoil and told me about how she thought it was affecting our economy through tourism.  She said that she has a lake near her house that is a big tourist spot.  Apparently it was almost run over by milfoil and that there was a large rush to save it.  Invasive plants can affect tourism through our landscapes.  We live in a very beautiful part of the word and people come from all over to enjoy it.  If our lakes are filled with weeds, and our forests are being pushed out, fewer people will want to come here.
                When I told these people about some of these plants more destructive sides,  such as Japanese knotweed, which can grow through cement foundations, they were shocked.  They had not realized what a problem they are.
                  Next I spoke to one of my peers.  She knew nothing about invasive plants at all.  I think this brings up what should be another social issue.  Maybe if today's youth knew about some of these problems, they would be inspired to take action and solve these issues.  Now, I belive people might already do this, but if we had people talk to the kids and tell them about these things, maybe that would help.
                I also spoke to my father.  He has been very interested in Invasive plants and animals recently, and is actually the one who inspired me to work on the invasive plant topic.  He talked about how invasive species affect the forests of Vermont.  He said that Invasive shrubs like honeysuckle and barberry,  shade out the young trees and undergrowth, eventually wiping out forests.  He also told me how invasive plants could affect animal populations.  When everything has been wiped out by barberry and honeysuckle, the birds have less to eat.  These plants have very little nutritional value,so the birds are eating lots of them, but not getting the energy the need to survive.  Also, the way the branches of these shrubs grow makes it easier for predators to get to small creatures hiding in them.
          The last person that I spoke to was one of my teachers.  She was pretty interested in the plants.  We talked about how it is hard to realize what is going on with the environment when the invasive plants can be so beautiful.  She understood why they were so bad, but wished that they were not such a big problem.  It was very interesting to talk with her because she made a very valid point.  She said that invasives have become such a big part of our scenery that we just do not notice them anymore.
             I think that most people know of or have heard a little bit about Invasive species.  They just need something to get them inspired to help.  I think this subject is, or needs to be, a bigger social issue.  If we just let invasives run wild it will eventually harm our economy and environment.