A Hands-on Introduction to Environmental Restoration

The objective of my capstone project was to gain hands-on experience with various environmental restoration activities. I worked/volunteered on-site at the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum with several different teams managing the different outdoor grounds and natural spaces. I participated in invasive plant identification and removal; planting native flowers, grasses, sedges, and shrubs in restored areas; as well as general natural habitat maintenance across many landscapes/environments. I also volunteered with Monarch Joint Venture, a nonprofit, and gained experience performing field data acquisition including performing transects, using quadrats, and completing a modified Pollard walk, collecting data about invasive as well as native plant species.

These activities led me to do additional reading and research, which in turn ignited an interest in other environmental restoration activities. This included learning about tall-grass prairie restoration and drafting a proposal for a theoretical tall-grass prairie restoration project. I also learned about how we can ALL be part of the solution to our current native plant and pollinator crisis by replacing a portion of our lawns with more native plant species, particularly planting “keystone species” or a “soft landing understory” to better support the natural ecosystems and ecosystem functions in our communities.

I came away from my capstone project inspired to learn even more about, and to become more involved in, environmental restoration.