Research 4

http://www.pointblue.org/our-science-and-services/conservation-science/conservation-training/straw-program
Article Link^

This article is written about a project called STRAW in which adults and children get together to restore watersheds. They are "facilitating professionally designed riparian and wetland restoration projects in the North Bay." In other words they work to restore vegetation to wetland habitats that are critical to the ecosystem and the wildlife. They do this by planting  native plants that are beneficial to endangered species and the water quality. They promote long term growth by controlling weed growth and irrigation so young plants will adapt to the habitat more easily. The project is a very good opportunity for the kids to become involved in their community and help their environment.

Research 3

http://www.ser.org/resources/resources-detail-view/ecological-restoration-a-means-of-conserving-biodiversity-and-sustaining-livelihoods
Article link^

This article defines environmental restoration and gives ideas about how to go about it. The author suggests  growing biodiversity, empowering local people, and improving ecosystem production. By doing these things structure will be restored so that "Balance exists between ecological processes and human activities such that human activities reinforce ecological health and vice versa." Next the author elaborates on his/her suggestions and gives examples of ways to help through gardening, educating communities about helping, and creating healthy environments for wildlife. Most of these solutions/suggestions involved doing prior research to get the best results.

Research 2

http://crssa.rutgers.edu/courses/lse/Web_scale/Web%20project/PHicks_FinRestor.htm (Polly Hicks)
http://ecowatch.com/2015/05/18/clearcut-half-million-trees/ (Gescheidt) 
Article Links^

These articles are addressing the need for environmental restoration. They mention various areas in need of help such as: deforestation, decreasing biodiversity, less vegetation, and pollution. These various issues are causing a lack of structure in the ecosystem. Today fewer people are monitoring the change in our environment so the slower we recognize problems the worse they will get. As forests are being cut down nobody is making plans to support restoration. In the process of deforestation chemicals are harming the wildlife. For example, "These toxic chemicals will leach into land, groundwater, mammals (like rodents who live in stumps), birds (like raptors who eat rodents) and humans who use the park lands."( Gescheidt) In conclusion,  deforestation causes fire hazards that lead to numerous negative effects on the environment. 

Research 1

http://www.cnps.org/cnps/grownative/why_native.phphttp://www.cnps.org/cnps/grownative/why_native.php
article link^

This article is focused on why native plants should be conserved. The author states that there are many benefits that result from growing California's native species rather than allowing invasive ones to  take over. A few of these benefits include: saving water, lower maintenance, a reduce of pesticides, more wildlife and support for the ecosystem. Native plants save water because they need "minimal irrigation". They require less fertilizer since they are better suited to California's environment and they have additional defenses against pests and diseases. Also, wildlife prefers native plants because they are better suited to each other. According to the article " hummingbirds, butterflies, and other beneficial insects...keep your landscape free of mosquitoes and plant-eating bugs."Finally the article states that native plants are a way of maintaining a connection to wildlife.

My new Big Idea

For our Big Ideas project we are going to be working on environment restoration at Tule Ponds. This project is important because not only will we be restoring the beauty of the Ponds, but we will also be researching on how to maintain it. Our ideas for this project are planting and weeding to promote the growth of native plants, making pathways to prevent the children from harming the plants, and planning to prevent future littering. Environment restoration is a growing need because our ecosystems are not as biodiverse as they used to be. In our situation invasive species are preventing the growth of other native ones. So our goals are to conserve biodiversity and influence others to give back to their environments.