Reflective Essay
MeeM
Example 1
I grew up playing outside every day with my brother and sister. I have highly fortunate to have had the childhood I did and it is largely in part to Upper Bidwell Park. I wouldn’t have had the open space to find tadpoles and snakes and birds or squish my toes into the dirt or clamber over and around boulders if Annie Bidwell had not gifted the first 1,902 acres—the park is currently 3,670 acres one of the largest municipal parks in the United States. In addition to supplying the children and families of Chico with a huge area to explore Bidwell Park is also home to many species of natural wildlife. The benefits of having an area like Upper Bidwell Park in California could be amplified because California is one of the 34 hotspots in the world meaning that California has a diverse set of flora and fauna (Hotspots Defined). The issue arises when this natural haven and its occupants are threatened.
A number of prominent—and large—houses were built along the south ridge line of Upper Bidwell Park. These houses and their placement are the culmination of several different oversights on part of everyone involved in each stage of the 15 year approval process. While most of the controversy is in the disruption of the park’s view shed there are also less obvious damages. The first is that in the development of these houses, which are located in Canyon Oaks a gated community above California Park, may be encroaching on the land gifted to the city by Annie Bidwell. John Scooling, a retired attorney and hiker who lives in Canyon Oaks, has been investigating the boundary line between the park and the subdivision. In the original deed, from 1905, and a U.S. Geological Survey done in 1951 the boundary line is virtually the same. However in comparison to the subdivision maps the boundary is farther north. That would mean that these houses that are “set back” from the park boundary line are really right next to the boundary or encroaching on the park land. Not only does this dishonor the park it is also sets a dangerous precedent for the future of the park and the wildlife that live there (Speer).
One of the major threats to wildlife is habit loss. Habit loss can occur in three different forms habitat destruction, fragmentation, or degradation. Destruction is when the habitat is destroyed directly. Fragmentation is when the habitat is split up, or fragmented, into pieces which make the quality of the habitat decline, possibly to the point where the specie cannot survive. Or perhaps the environmental change is too great for the specie to adapt to. Degradation is when the systems involved in an ecosystem are change, invasive species are introduced, or pollution changes the ecosystem enough so that native species are no long supported. One of the main drivers of habitat loss is land conversion for development (Wildlife Conservation).
This makes the repercussions of the new houses on the south rim of Upper Park not just about aesthetics. With the expansion of Chico homes and increased traffic to Upper Park new species are introduced to the park. Human activities bring most non-native species either by foot traffic or intentional planting. These new species can become invasive since the native species are not use to the added pressure the new species will exert. These invasive species can reduce the overall biodiversity. New exotic plants planted in gardens in Canyon Oaks could escape and quickly spread into the park. This will affect the ecosystem within the park and possibly drive out the native species.
In addition the new houses decrease the overall size that the wildlife can live in. This creates more fragmentation which puts more pressure on migratory species. There is less continuous habitat for these species to roam. Included in this habitat loss is an increased edge effect which pushes the species into an even smaller area (Guardino). While Bidwell Park is already fairly isolated further isolation or encroachment into the habitat will only put more pressure on the species currently living there and potentially have disastrous outcomes on biodiversity. The more land taken from the park the less healthy the ecosystem.
The increased pressure on our local habitats is only a small part of a larger issue that is happening all over the world. Habitat loss and decreases in biodiversity is a small part of the overall health of our planet. If we can keep our local ecosystems healthy then perhaps we can begin to change the direction of our planet and increase biodiversity and suitable habitats as opposed to our current direction of loss.
Works Cited
Guardino, Josephine. "Bidwell Park In Peril." Bidwell Park in Peril. Friends of Bidwell Park, Fall 2005. Web. 26 Oct. 2012. <http://www.friendsofbidwellpark.org/bpinperil.html>.
"Hotspots Defined." Hotspots Defined. Conservation International, n.d. Web. 26 Oct. 2012. <http://www.conservation.org/where/priority_areas/hotspots/Pages/hotspots_defined.aspx>.
Speer, Robert. "Unwanted Neighbors." Chico News & Review. CN&R, 27 July 2006. Web. 26 Oct. 2012. <http://www.newsreview.com/chico/unwanted-neighbors/content?oid=86337>.
"Wildlife Conservation." National Wildlife Federation. National Wildlife Federation, n.d. Web. 26 Oct. 2012. <http://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Wildlife-Conservation/Threats-to-Wildlife/Habitat-Loss.aspx>.