Pacific Northwest Visit

Now that we've survived the trip, it seems like a whirlwind in the rearview mirror.  First class to SEA-TAC, the shuttle and ferry to Whidbey Island, then four days of beach combing, forest bathing, and NW cuisine.  

Then we took the rental car to Edmonds via Deception Pass.  Beautiful drive for the first half, then I-5 craziness for the second.  Explored the shoreline, wetlands, markets, and a wedding.  

Then, just like that, we're back on the ferry to drop off the car, followed by one last bumpy shuttle ride, a long wait in the airport, and the flight home.  

 

Positive Ecological Storyline

Nobody writes about the plane that lands... or the ecosystem that is not imperiled.  So for this year's NaNoWriMo, I'm thinking about a novella that gives hope, at least on an individual level.  It'll be the story of how I'm watching the living things around me:  the backyard, the Botanic Garden, Albuquerque and New Mexico in general.  

For a working title, I'm considering, "What is Not Measurable, Make Measurable."  Apparently, this is a paraphrase of a longer quote attributed to Gallileo.  Some say it is a misattribution, although frankly I'm not getting clarity on who said it and when.  

Here's a photo of a potentially new species of Aphyllon with the obligatory ruler for scale.

I guess the first problem to overcome will be an outline and then an opening paragraph.  Thoughts run to electoral-vote.com's favorite line:  "A week is a year in politics."  Follow that up with some pithy saying about how much things change in a week in the garden.  

Or perhaps I should dangle an "in medias res" description about some conservation action that ultimately gives way to hope.  The call out to citizen science as a way to combat the current regime's anti-science, anti-evidence, climate change denial positions is certainly one important theme.  

More to come, but for the next week, I'll be a moving target without access to a keyboard.  That means input will be via the little screen and its wonky one-fingered typing.  

Indigenous Conservation

Today I read a fascinating essay in Nature written by indigenous authors primarily in Australia and New Zealand about decolonizing conservation science.  It has given me pause to consider how this point of view can be leveraged with a grant from the BioPark Conservation Committee.  The essay highlighted eight areas where concrete steps can be taken.  

Recognize science’s colonial legacy—ensure that students learn the history of their field

Fund—increasing Indigenous representation on decision-making panels

Hire, retain, promote—bring Indigenous scholars together, such as through mentoring networks, and to ensure that Indigenous faculty members have time to build relationships with local Indigenous Peoples

Dismantle institutional racism—facilitate connections, collaborations and mentorships among Indigenous academics

Recognize indigenous knowledge—engage with the Indigenous communities who steward such knowledge, with their full consent

Create safe spaces in science—Traditional Ecological Knowledge section in the Ecological Society of America; the Indigenous Action Taskforce in the American Geophysical Union

Foster Indigenous sovereignty—including Indigenous community members and researchers early on in research projects can ensure that they are designed, implemented and reported with Indigenous Peoples’ sovereignty and well-being in mind

Move towards Land Back—free BioPark membership; research opportunities; direct research programs to serve Indigenous communities 

Of course, these days are perilous times to even mention diversity, equity, and inclusion.  That's a red flag for defunding, at the very least.  

More references and resources:  

Indigenous knowledge is key to sustainable food systems--https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-00021-4

NSF invests millions to unite Indigenous knowledge with Western science--https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02839-4

Weaving Indigenous knowledge into the scientific method--https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-00029-2

Travel Schlepp, just for the heck of it

 

Dog Days

The dog star, Sirius, is high in the sky and August takes its queue from that.  The plants of summer all have their place and their story to tell. 

Passiflora caerulea, the blue passionflower

At least in our backyard, things are going well.  The passionflower is finally blooming and the late blooming flowers are holding on.  Daylilies have finished after a good show.  Cleome is doing well in the shade of the sand cherries.  Canas and Hibiscus are putting on their best display.  

Rio Chama near Pilar

Last Tuesday, Ric and I went north looking for the strange new Aphyllon species.  We headed up the Rio Grande from Espanola, first on the west bank and then on the east bank.  Checking almost every turnout with any sign of Chamisa, we eventually got to Pilar where the road went to poorly maintained gravel.  Our target species was never found.  Too early in the season?  Not a favorable year?  

Rio Grande at the Central Ave. bridge

While the Rio further north still slows freely, by the time things get to Albuquerque, all the water has been diverted to irrigation canals.  The river bed is completely dry here.  :-(