Project type: Invasive Species Control
Scout Name: Seung yeon L.
Unit: Venture Crew 399, Austin, Texas
Project Location: Outdoor Learning Center
Partner Organization: Casis Elementary School
My project was to clean out the invasive species in the Casis Forest to make room for the native plants. Invasive plants such as Nandina, Ligustrum, Paper Mulberry and Asian Jasmine could be easily seen throughout the forest. I have worked on other invasive species removal projects in the Casis Forest in the past, but the invasives always grow back. Through this experience, I learned that just cutting the invasive plants down to the ground is not enough. They are likely to regenerate from the remaining trunk. To fully remove these invasive plants, I made sure that the roots of the plants were fully pulled out from the earth this time.
This project served a broader purpose than simply removing invasive species. It was also a part of the City of Austin’s Wildlife Habitat Challenge. I organized and helped the West Austin Neighborhood Group (WANG) to be a part of this competition. I attended their annual meeting and gave a powerpoint presentation that I had prepared about the Challenge, convincing their board to vote to participate in it.