'Naturalize' is a DIRTY WORD.
Sounds like something has to do with NATURE, but it does NOT.
This has come to my attention since I have been working with folks in
Hawaii for the past several years who are trying to save the REAL
'natural' things here. In some nontropical areas, weeds ('naturalized'
plants) may not be such a big factor in loss of native ecosystems, but
here it's the main direct factor at this point in time (exacerbated by
feral ungulates [pigs, deer, goats]). "BEAUTIFUL HAWAII" is in the eyes of
the beholder; no doubt the climate is incredible, and all the green
lushness on the windward sides of the islands are 'nice,' but I hate to
hear anything about 'NATURALized' plants that are here... there are
virtually NO 'natural' plants (intact native communities) in the lower
2000' of any Hawaiian Island, and much/all of the natural areas which
remain are immediately* threatened with DEMISE by 'NATURALized' plants.
(*Without human intervention & direct & ongoing management, it seems to
me that there will be NOTHING left in a couple hundred years.)
Just hate to give folks the wrong impression of 'NATURE' by using
nice-sounding terms which DON'T have nice implications!
I'll hush now, thanks for reading.
-pt
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Philip A. Thomas - thomasp@maui.com OR halesci@hawaii.edu
P.O. Box 1272 - Puunene, Maui, Hawaii 96784 USA
voice: (808) 572-9306 ext. 3233 fax: (808) 572-1304
## Opinions expressed are my own and do not necessarily represent ##
## the views of the U.S. National Biological Service or my employer! ##