nature and culture

The Beaver Marshland continues to change causing the news about this site to constantly change. It’s like the native we’ve drawn around the Earth. Earth’s environmental degradation was discovered in the 1960’s, which caused there to be an increased acts of activism. Then, there was a movement to educate and take stewardship of our planet Earth. Later, in the 1990’s there were many hopeful legislation efforts such as the Kyoto Protocol which tried to cap the amount of air pollutants that have entered our atmosphere however, richer countries were less inclined to change their habits. Now, our hopelessness in Earth makes us hopeful in creating a new Earth in Mars.

The Centennial Wood’s Beaver Marshland has been used for multiple purposes including Centennial Woods offers opportunities to immerse themselves in activities such as a cross-country skiing, walking, jogging, snowshoeing, and bird-watching. Centennial is also a large component in teaching many classes at the University of Vermont ranging from botany, environmental studies, geology and natural resources. In addition, it has served as an agricultural land and as military training facility equipped with a Bunker for the ROTC program here at UVM.

Centennial Woods and the Beaver Marshland has served to help many individuals throughout the centuries however, we have failed to reciprocate the same care it has given us. The beavers who once regulated water levels and succession are gone, power lines run over stumps of former trees which offered shelter for animals are gone, the trails have eroded away exposing roots due to increased foot traffic, and the streams carry the wastes found within Burlington, and people have used the site as a means of shelter.

There are many problems within this site however, there are many perspectives within our reach to make a change within our woods in order to create a promising future. Over the past decade, Burlington’s local government has removed public assistance housing. Therefore, much of the homeless population has been subjected to living in non-traditional spaces. Through the government’s actions, it has contributed to winners and losers. The local government has an institution has contributed to the increased degradation of the Centennial Woods area. There has been increased amounts of pollution as the homeless population has been given no other choice but to live in these woods causing there to be more plastic scrapes, more sulfates, and more erosion being contributed within this ecosystem. Therefore, in order to solve this issue, there needs to be an increase analysis done by researchers in order to see the correlation between the loss of homes and Centennial Woods degradation. As a citizen of the Burlington community no matter how temporary it may be I find it essential for there to be increased advocacy.  Grassroots movements are essential to involving and educating the community about creating a justice system for all socio-economic classes. It needs to be clear that the need to commercialize the waterfront is not nearly as important as taking care of the citizens within Burlington. In order to petition the destruction of affordable housing and support the construction of new affordable homes. Involving political actors would challenge individuals’ ethics and the political economy while helping promote environmental justice for all of the society.

In addition to this, there would need to be increased education on our local environment which challenges social constructs and ideas the UVM and Burlington community have on society. In order, to achieve this there needs to be a greater dialogue with the citizens and our local woods. In order to create this bridge, in which non-human advocators which introduce themselves as wastes entering our local streams. Some of this activism can be created through pictures which show the degradation and erosion of our banks and soils. Through doing these there can be an increased awareness of the factors that are affecting even the most rural places are not immune and are affected by humans. Through changing this social construct of that this New England state has stayed pristine is not correct. This would promote the lack of stewardship and create more conscious citizens. Through this acknowledgment, there would be an increased connection and appreciation for our local environment.

Centennial Woods has reached a point where there is an increased acknowledgment that there is degradation present. Therefore, in order to solve this issues we need to treat the causes of the problem such as lack of housing and awareness. This will create a promising future where we are not giving up on our Earth.

Vermont a place of change, a lovely liberal town with an emphasis on the environment. Centennial Woods is a place in which the woods are used for recreational and teaching purposes. A place in which becomes place to get away from our generic society. When an individual first arrives with these woods, it can be observed that the trees are young and only a second successional forest. This land was once used as land for farmers and apple orchids. As one walks further in it becomes apparent that there has been a shift in the forest. These trees are much are mature. As one takes a closer look at the trees one can observe that these Beech trees have been spared for a particular reason. These trees have grown and emerged with the barbed wire of the surrounding area.  But, then as one travels further into the forest it suddenly becomes a first successional and right above this area, they are power lines towering over a wooded area.

This narrative is true for many forested areas within the United States. There is increased evidence of human disturbance and dominance over these areas. Vermont is not an exemption to this reality. Centennial woods like many other locations has become a dubbing ground for many individuals. The paths are eroded and roots are exposed. The land is no longer treated with respect. The streams that run through the woods are filled with student litter from University litter. Utensil such as forks especially enjoy floating through this water system. This site may very well become a part of campus as there has been an increase need for the University to expend housing in order to admit more students within this campus. The future of Centennial Woods is at jeopardy as the University has an increased interest in increasing its profits at the expense of the surrounding woodland area.

Ecotage is an interesting term that holds a lot of controversy. It is the practice of damaging property to prevent ecological damage. Much of the readings describe this as a rights movement for those who have a lesser voice. Most individuals for example, pay little attention to the electricity plant and power lines installed in Centennial because it is too much of a great benefit. Therefore, it has become essential that if individuals truly want to make a change and preserve the planet action is need because simple disobedience does not truly solve our problems. Though radical change is needed however, it doesn’t necessarily need to be done by harming individuals but by making certain resources like fossil fuels unobtainable and making renewable energy the only option. Humans cannot have the luxury of choosing because if they did they would choose industries that contained large negative externalities with small consumer rates. If these social norms of greed and money adapted by westerners were to be turned on its head it would influence us to adapt new social norms which would involve living more holistically with our planet.

Institutions. What norms and/or institutions regulate human behavior and nonhuman activity at this site? How have these changed, and might they change in the future?

Largely the public uses Centennial Woods. Before, our present time Centennial woods was largely used by the school district. In the past it was used for ROTC training and for skiing in the 1980’s. Today this site has many public uses ranging from being the home of Burlington Vermont’s electricity grid, to being a learning center for many natural resource students, or by simply being a recreational center for those individuals living in close proximity of these woods. This site has been deemed for public use, which also includes being used by my dogs as well as being used for shelter by much of the homeless population. Due to high human traffic, these woods are incredibly littered and have many eroded ill cared for trails. Many of the trees have a sufficient amount of root exposure. Looking into the future, Centennial Woods will continue to be used for different human uses, because the social norm in this particular place is that humans have dominion over this area. Thus, in the near future there will be more human-environment interactions. For example, the University of Vermont has proposed building new campus dorms on this site. In all, based on the treatment of the words thus far it is safe to say that Centennial woods will continue to be used with increased frequency, and there might by construction within Centennial Woods within the near future.

Markets and Political Economy (counts as one). How does the market valuation of land at this site contribute to what it is? How do economic interests and power relations converge (or diverge) in this? How have these relations changed over time?

Markets and economic gain have played a large role in shaping the landscape within Centennial Woods. Before, the 19^th century Centennial Woods consisted primarily of being an agricultural area. Thus, much of the woods during this time were non-existent. However, due to this specific terrain being hard to manage and because it was a flood plain many of them the farmer’s abandoned this site for either better farmland or job opportunities. After, the 19^th the land near the far end of Centennial woods became largely industrialized. Burlington Vermont’s electricity was founded within the outskirts of the town in Centennial woods and is in close proximity roads. This specific location is the heart to the electricity provided to Burlington, and this specific because it was thought of as being secluded and hidden away from the public and tourists attractions. Economically, this is a great investment and project because it is a luxury that everyone desires. On the other hand there are many individuals in the environmental movement how argue that, it is causing there to be a devaluation the forest especially from the tri-annual cutting of trees and native vegetation growth that once sustained the wildlife in this area.

Reevaluating Past Sites: Beaver Marshland

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                  Centennial Woods is often called an Urban Forest. The ecosystems within Centennial Woods are often valued because it provides wildlife habitat, safe passage for wildlife movement corridors, and Wetland areas which help increase the biodiversity within ecosystems and provide many ecosystem services such as acting as nurseries for small invertebrates and amphibians through its many water systems. This ecosystem also provides many benefits to human through both recreational, educational and financial needs. For example, Centennial Woods offers opportunities to immerse themselves in activities such as a cross-country skiing, walking, jogging, snowshoeing, and bird-watching. Centennial woods also offers the City of Burlington a large amount of electric power which sits deep into this natural area creating revenue. However, despite Centennial woods offering these tremendous beneficial properties, humans and human activity act as a parasite destroying centennial woods such as causing large disturbances including clear-cutting forest and causing large erosion problems within this specified area. Also, the increase in visitors within this forest often times cause for increase amount of waste and vandalism to occur. Lastly, because of human involvement within this ecosystem, Burlington International Airport has created unwanted noise and air pollution, which is negatively affecting wildlife.  I have become an integrated part of Centennial woods as I am also a continuous visitor.