How to Restore a Forest

Course Description

Summary

Bennington’s campus supports beautiful examples of temperate deciduous mixed hardwood forests. Our forests are also impacted by legacies of past land-use and introduced plant species that affect biodiversity and ecological function. This class is a hands-on exploration of ecological restoration and invasive species removal in our own back yard. Students will explore the local forest community composition, structure, and function and learn how land managers and conservation practitioners decide when and how to remove introduced plants as part of forest restoration efforts. We will assess the current condition of the campus forests, practice plant identification skills, and look for signs of past disturbances to piece together the history of this place. We will also read broadly and work to understand how ecology determines what's "invasive" and the socio-cultural constructs entangling introduced species.