Members of AYLUS Syosset participated in another invasive plant removal project with the members of AYLUS Great neck, Dix Hills and Plainview with the Stewardship Saturday Program at Caumsett State Park. Stewardship Saturday serves as a way for many to find new volunteer opportunities coordinated by New York State Parks on Long Island. Green briar, oriental bittersweet, Japanese honeysuckle, porcelain berry and other species of vines were removed from the bordering forest area situated in bushes that are frequented by many local animals, for example deer. These vines were spreading across vast regions, mainly restricted to the ground, and thus members made sure to remove as much vine as possible. Vines like the green briar vines, despite being native to the area, do more harm than good. Honeysuckle and oriental bittersweet can choke the trees that they grow on and drag the branches down, preventing it from protecting itself during storms as well as killing the tree entirely. Porcelain berry vines, having many similarities to the native grape, are extremely problematic and are able to grow at vastly quick rates. Having a loss in biodiversity is damaging to our ecosystems as the other insects, birds and other flora and fauna all depend on each other. Syosset AYLUS managed to cut down large piles of vines in an effort to remediate the effects that these types of plants can cause. All members worked very hard even though the weather in the park was very cold and snowing.
Members participated include:
Alyssa Huang (3.5 h), Jessica Albrecht (3 h).
