8
votes
Putting the Icelandic Lupin debate under the microscope to try and find out the good and the bad about this invasive species
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- Title
- Iceland's Deserts Are Turning Purple - here's why
- Authors
- Mossy Earth
- Duration
- 9:04
- Published
- Aug 25 2022
Unlike most YouTube comment sections, the one for this video is worth reading; it includes input from biologists and people who have worked on reforestation projects in areas with lupin ground cover. Great stuff.
Huh... I genuinely think this is the first time I've heard about an intentionally introduced invasive species that is truly beneficial and hasn't backfired spectacularly (at least not yet). I guess that makes sense given how barren Iceland is though. It's hard to disrupt a native ecosystem where there isn't much of one to begin with (I had no idea only 1.5% of Iceland is forested!). Interesting.
This is an interesting idea. As with most things, I find myself of two minds. I love Lupin and it's exciting to see such a promising use for it as a colonizer. However, I believe we are at a weird time in ecological restoration. Globally we seem to be pushing for the "restoration" of forests everywhere, including ecosystems that have never been forests. I noticed that he says they are stymieing desertification, but it would be nice to know what ecosystems are desertifying. To non-ecologists/biologists, deserts tend to get a bad wrap as a lack of an ecosystem rather than being seen as their own unique, important ecosystem. As the environmental movement pushes for more and more sequestration capabilities, key ecosystems such as wetlands, deserts, and grasslands are being targeted for "restoration" campaigns. I'm all for restoration, but I'm cautious about giving it carte blanche.
You say "ecosystems that have never been forests", I say "ecosystems that suffered deforestation a millenia ago," as Iceland used to be 40% forests as compared to the .5% now.
Also, Mossy Earth, the organization who released this video is responsible for reforestation efforts but also efforts to re-flood dried-out wetland forests and other environmental restoration efforts that don't fall under the umbrella of reforestation. They've even got videos specifically talking about the downside of reforestation above all else.
That's awesome! I wasn't trying to poo poo this project, just that I understand the skepticism of projects like this that introduce potential threats. Thanks for the info.