Trading gray for green: How cities can welcome nature back

Paloma Dashevsky

Five tiny eyes stared up at me as I peered into the cup. The bee, more specifically, a rusty patched bumble bee, was beginning to stir as she warmed up.

I had been out collecting various insects around the Twin Cities to provide scientists at the University of Minnesota important information about the local fauna. They are studying many species, including this rusty patched bumblebee, currently facing immense environmental pressure as temperatures rise and native habitats vanish. I placed the bee into a plastic cup with holes poked in the lid. She was briefly stored in a cooler that would otherwise hold soda or popsicles to take note of her body size and markings. The cold environment triggers a temporary state of energy-conserving torpor, a phase the insects in our Minnesota climate naturally go through to prepare for the colder months.

As I watched her then, freshly awakened and carefully testing the strength of her legs and wings, I felt an immediate connection and a sense of responsibility to protect her. It is imperative that we learn to make room within our urban environment for native habitats and inhabitants alike.
Native plants and animals in our community support local food chains, providing essential nectar, seeds, and shelter for insects, birds, and small mammals.

Now imagine your favorite natural spaces here – along the Mississippi or in Reservoir Woods – left unprotected. Data from a recent study by the World Wildlife Fund found the average size of global wildlife populations has plummeted by 73% in the last 50 years. Another report by the United Nations found that roughly 75% of Earth’s land-based environment and 66% of marine environments have been severely altered by human actions.

One proposed solution is the creation of connected ‘‘green corridors.’’ These paths within cities like St. Paul can prevent the isolation of wildlife and help restore ecological balance in our paved urban landscape.

While native plants provide essential habitats and food sources for other flora and fauna, they also help manage water and rainfall. Deep-rooted native plants and bioswales (channels that help direct and filter stormwater runoff) act as natural sponges to soak up rainwater. In Minnesota, many types of prairie plants grow elaborate root systems – some as deep as 15 feet! – to withstand the harsh climate. The roots can slow down and absorb surface runoff significantly better than traditional lawns, reducing the strain on municipal sewer systems, preventing flooding, and filtering pollutants before they reach local waterways like the mighty Mississippi River.

Native landscapes have already proven to be essential in our fight against climate change and in promoting public health. Vegetation mitigates the urban heat island effect by providing shade and cooling the surrounding air through a process called evapotranspiration: water is absorbed by plant roots, which travel up through the plant until it reaches the leaf and evaporates from the plant into the air through tiny leaf pores called stomata. Additionally, the presence of natural reserves and green spaces in urban areas have been shown to encourage physical activity and improve the overall mental health of surrounding populations (IUCN).

Who wouldn’t want healthier, happier cities?

It is easy to view this problem as yet another unavoidable, sweeping crisis affecting the globe. But remember, there is hope. Yes, this issue spans decades and continents, but it is an issue with solutions, beginning right here and now. There are three simple steps you can take to make our native wildlife’s voices – like that of the rusty patched bumblebee – heard.

• First, educate yourself. The University of Minnesota offers excellent resources and information about native plants.

• Second, take action. Consider setting aside a small portion of your lawn for a native plant garden. Not much of a gardener? You can contact a specialist for help or reach out to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to advocate for more representation of native plants in parks and green spaces.

• And finally, share your knowledge. Discuss with your friends, family, and neighbors right here in St. Paul. If you feel you want to go the extra mile, don’t be afraid to contact local lawmakers and representatives. Change happens when we connect and communicate with those around us.
Paloma Dashevsky is a student at Como Park Senior High School.