My name is Nicholas and I am an ecologist operating in the Central Corn Belt Plains of Northern Illinois. Reading the name of the ecoregion where I’m from, it’s easy to get a good idea of what the typical topography and ecology are like: Flat and agriculture. We’re pretty much devoid of any remaining native flora and fauna up here, except in highly fragmented populations.
Of course, it is my job to manage micro and fragmented habitats within my range, and I take a lot of time and effort to maintaining the most biodiverse and service-providing ecosystems I can. However, this means that people are free to enjoy, or more accurately, destroy the areas I work in. From anglers leaving trash and trampling native plants to people picking sensitive plants to uneducated people tampering with, removing, or destroying my research materials, it almost seems like there’s no hope.
But there remains one bit of salvation that remains: Education. The other half of my job involves educational outreach and science communication to the public in a multifaceted structure in an attempt to gain support and awareness for conservation. By providing information on the importance of the ecology of the natural areas throughout the district, people are more inclined to appreciate nature and police themselves and others. When people understand something and take the time to learn about it, they naturally care more. People will inhibit, destroy, and sometimes stop conservation progress. As nature lovers, it is not our job to make enemies and attack problems as individuals, but rather to forge a network of friends and colleagues to help stop environmental degradation together.
Find Nicholas on Instagram @naturenerdnicholas