The MVS parking lot is surrounded by Bradford Pear. Seen in almost every direction, this tree has invaded the MVS community, not to mention all of the United States.
Native to Southeast Asia, the Bradford pear, also known as the Callery Pear, has made its way across the United States. Starting in the early 1900s, this tree was imported to the US for agricultural and decorative use, desired for its spring & fall colors (but definitely not its smell). Quickly becoming one of the most invasive species in the state of Ohio, this tree lowers the state’s biodiversity and displaces native plants by overtaking habitats. With an extremely high rate of branch breakage as a result of fast-growing and dense structure, the trees are highly susceptible to storm damage and often lose limbs. This dense growth bars wildlife’s natural movement, negatively impacting native animals in their habitats. One of the few benefits the tree has is that it is extremely high in nutrients for bees, providing convenient resources to our local pollinators.
Since January 2023, the buying, selling, or planting of these trees has been illegal in the state of Ohio. Knowing all of these poor effects the Bradford pear has on our environment, how do we feel about being surrounded by this invasive plant?
Look out! Spreading fast, it may follow you home.
What do our locals think?
When talking with Mrs. Griffith, our Chair of Environmental Sciences, she explained what she thinks about our Bradford Pear problem. When asked her opinion on the removal of the trees, she explained the pros and cons of multiple scenarios. If the trees stay, shade will continue to be provided in the parking lot, we would have a beautiful landscape, and pollinators would benefit. However, when birds eat off the trees, the seeds are carried to other areas of Ohio, furthering their invasive reach. On the other hand, if we replace the trees with native pollinators, they could take a long time to grow or would be empty for parts of the year. The shade would be gone, and providing for bees may be costly and would take extra work.
Mrs. Johnson had a similar take on the disruption of the natural balance of our local ecosystem. She recommends removal of the Bradford pear trees to help protect biodiversity. A strategy she suggests is to remove them in a gradual manner.
“Gradual removal allows for better planning and management. It gives you time to evaluate the landscape, choose appropriate native replacements, and maintain the functional benefits that the current trees might provide in the short term (such as shade, erosion control, or visual appeal)”.
Mrs. Johnson’s suggestion aims to improve the health of the surrounding ecosystem. While replacing these trees will help restore our biodiversity, they can provide educational opportunities for our MVS students. A project like this is “a living example of what we teach in the classroom about native species, ecological balance, and the long-term impacts of our choices¨.
Both of our local experts have expressed the damage these trees do to our environment.