Today's WaPo has an interesting article about a plan to use volunteers to collect information about the ways in which global climate change is affecting the the Appalachian Trail Volunteers will collect information about air and water quality, the health of plants, and animal migration patterns to build an early environmental warning system for the 120 million people along the Eastern Seaboard. . . . The Appalachian Mountains are ideal for the project because they are home to one of the richest collections of temperate-zone species in the world. They also have a variety of ecosystems that blend into one another -- hardwood forests next to softwood forests next to alpine forests. The trail along the mountain chain passes through 14 states and eight national forests.
David Startzell, executive director of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy in Harpers Ferry, W.Va. explains the importance of having the observations made by volunteers:
"People will read that on 25 or 30 days in a given year, it's considered unhealthy to walk on the Appalachian Trail, and we think that's going to grab people's attention more than if they just read about air-quality trends in general.
That is also why volunteers will be critical to the project's success. It's one thing for people to read about technical reports on bird migration, acid rain or air quality, Startzell says. We think it's another thing when people learn about that firsthand by actually helping to collect that information," he said.
This sounds like a great idea for extended families, scout-type organizations, covens, and, well, hiking clubs. More info on participating here.
3 comments:
The Appalachian Trail is too widely used in its sections through PA, MD, VA, and NC. Every hiker changes the ecosystem a little bit.
As a kid I could ride my bike to the trailhead, so I know.
My boyfriend wanted to be an AT volunteer. It's too bad we don't live a little closer because he'd be perfect for this kind of a thing.
Hecate - Thanks for the information.
Anne - Don't forget about GA, too. With about 3,000 thru-hikers that start within two month's time, as well as the section hikers re-living their "glory days" of their thru hike, the AT's first 76 miles is very much overused. The year that I hiked, there were over forty tents at the shelter area I stayed at the first night out. That's not counting those at the first two shelters and those that were scattered between at campsites of their own making.
Post a Comment