Conservation
Conservation at Swaner Preserve
The boundaries of the Swaner Preserve are easily noted on any map, but nature is oblivious
to such human-imposed boundaries. Streams flow and winds blow across our borders day
and night. All who live upstream and upwind of Swaner unknowingly affect those who
forage, nest, hunt and den on the Preserve. Like many natural areas, Swaner Preserve
is part of a larger ecosystem that is dominated by human development.
The Preserve is surrounded by houses and roads, bisected by a major interstate and
crisscrossed by trails and a maze of land easements. Its management means understanding
the needs of both the ecosystem and the people who live in and around it. Our conservation
efforts enhance both environmental health and human well-being. First, we seek to
understand our precious resources by conducting professional field surveys and assessing
the land, wildlife and waters.
Next, we work to restore the Preserve to its most natural state. Then we enhance our
streams and wildlife habitat for the benefit of the community. Finally, we partner
with other organizations to ensure that our conservation efforts are comprehensive
and meaningful on a larger scale.
Invasive Weed Management
The management of invasive weeds is the most time consuming and expensive restoration project Swaner tackles each year. Swaner pursues multiple grants and funding sources specifically for this project to improve habitat and ecosystem functions by removing these plants and reseeding with native species.
Interns, staff, and volunteers spend hundreds of hours each year physically removing multiple species across the Preserve. Swaner participates in the ongoing research of biocontrols on invasive plants. Biocontrols are living agents like insects or fungus, that target the invasive plant and can help control populations.
Want to get involved and lend a hand? Check out our upcoming volunteer projects!
What is an invasive weed?
Invasive, noxious, weeds are not native to North America that can pose serious environmental threats. These plants did not evolve in our ecosystems, and therefore do not have native predators or diseases to keep their populations in check. They can spread like wildfire, crowding out native biodiversity, increasing soil erosion, reducing water quality, and more.
Here is one of our favorite guidebooks. Want a paper version? Stop by the EcoCenter during open hours to get one for free or learn more.
