Turning Old Industrial Sites into Wildlife Habitats
Unsightly, decaying and unused, the “brown” industrial lands found throughout the United States serve only to remind people of changing technologies and economic downturns. The lands used to house factories and warehouses that hummed with activity and production. Now, they stand empty, overgrown, rusting, falling apart.
On the face of it, these lands appear only as environmental eyesores, but look a little closer and you’ll find these urban industrial sites can hold surprising ecological significance.
Scientists and ecologists around the country are working to redevelop many strategically-located “brown” sites into wildlife refuges and habitats.
Take, for example, the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, where once chemical factories, power plants and a former missile site were operating. Now, it’s not only the stop-off point for over 300 species of migratory birds that rest, nest and feed there. It’s also home to foxes, raptors, lake sturgeon, the spotted turtle and eastern fox snake. Aiming to maintain and encourage this activity, the area is due to undergoing revitalization, with plans to restore native vegetation, cap polluted soils, restore native vegetation, and re-establish the natural shoreline.
This is just one of many restoration projects happening around the country. To learn more, have a read at emagazine.
Image: country_boy_shane
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading ...
Recreating the American West
XHello there! If you are new here, you might want to subscribe to the RSS feed for updates on this topic. Anyone who grew up on
Your Salad May Come with a Bullet
XHello there! If you are new here, you might want to subscribe to the RSS feed for updates on this topic. A disturbing trend sweeping across
Guatemala: Volcanoes, Sugarcane and Yoga Mats
XHello there! If you are new here, you might want to subscribe to the RSS feed for updates on this topic. Yoga is all about finding
The Power of Pigs
XHello there! If you are new here, you might want to subscribe to the RSS feed for updates on this topic. Pigs have been getting a
|
Bookmark |
2 Comments
November 11th, 2009 at 9:57 pm
This is an excellent idea.
November 11th, 2009 at 11:31 pm
Well said! We should be returning these ‘abandoned eyesores’ to nature- but not invasive species, actual restoration to native habitats.
Welcome! The comment box is all yours to say what you like. Just make sure you use a real name, not a site or company, so you don't get sent to the spam bin. (That makes us sad.)