During the Invasive Species Awareness week, I volunteered in the Invasive Species Removal at the Eco-Corridor. I had heard much about how severe invasive species are to native plants in classes and lectures. I knew they posed a serious threat, but I had never experienced the impact up close. However, this time, I see how many invasive species are in our native environment. English ivy was the invasive species I needed to remove. They cling to native tree trunks and branches, competing for resources and weakening or even killing the host trees over time. Furthermore, they were on almost all the trees and spread all over the ground.
To remove them, I had to carefully cut them without damaging the tree’s branches. The process was slow and required patience, as the vines often wrapped tightly around the bark and dug into crevices. Sometimes, I even had to yank down large, thick vines with force—it was not an easy task, and I nearly fell a couple of times while pulling. It made me realize how easily invasive species can gain a foothold and how hard it is to undo the damage once it has been done.
While removing invasive species was tiring, the experience gave me a new perspective on the importance of protecting native ecosystems. It is easy to talk about environmental issues in theory just like what we discussed in classes, but seeing the ivy’s reach and working to remove it helped me truly grasp the scale of the problem.
Looking at the clean area, I left the volunteer event sore but satisfied. I knew that even a small action like volunteering for one hour can make a big difference. This hands-on experience reminded me that environmental stewardship starts with awareness and grows through action.
