GREEN BEAT LANGLEY: The beautiful art of restoration<\/p>\n
Published 3:00 pm Saturday, August 8, 2026<\/p>\n
Ecological restoration is often seen as more of an art than a science.<\/p>\n
Just as the mysterious artistic process can be spellbinding, the work of restorationists can also be a wonder to observe.<\/p>\n
One morning, on my sabbatical in Las Cruces, New Mexico, I visited the La Mancha Wetlands Restoration project and stopped to chat with two volunteers doing restoration work there.<\/p>\n
I was impressed to hear that the volunteers had been at it for weeks removing cattails by hand, one at a time.<\/p>\n
Their plan was not to remove every last cattail (incidentally cattails are a native species), but clear enough to make for a more open wetland to attract more waterfowl.<\/p>\n
After walking around the site and taking in the myriad flora and fauna at the La Mancha Wetlands site, including lizards, rabbits, birds, dragonflies, and butterflies, I met up with one of the volunteers again.<\/p>\n
I casually asked him what he was working on.<\/p>\n
In his reply he said the magic words: \u201csalt cedar.\u201d<\/p>\n
From his response I knew right away this would lead to a much longer conversation.<\/p>\n
Salt cedar, or tamarisk, was the plant I\u2019d come to New Mexico to study.<\/p>\n
In fact, after talking to the volunteer, Dale Lindeman, that day, I later reviewed some of his project planning materials, did lunch with him, and enjoyed many more conversations.<\/p>\n
As inherently fascinating as my academic project on salt cedar was, Dale\u2019s passion for dealing with salt cedar at the La Mancha Wetlands Restoration site was a whole other thing.<\/p>\n
Literally millions of dollars have been spent managing salt cedar across the western U.S., where the invasive plant now occupies an estimated five million square miles.<\/p>\n
Yet many have questioned control efforts are worth the huge cost, and even whether it should be controlled because with human alteration of waterways and the current mega-drought, salt cedar grows better than most native species.<\/p>\n
However, as a volunteer with limited resources, working in a relatively wet area where native species can be nurtured, Dale takes a more down-to-earth approach.<\/p>\n
He is working to girdle the salt cedar trees, one at a time, using saws and other hand tools.<\/p>\n
Many of the trees he has girdled still sport green branches, illustrating how challenging it is to deal with this plant.<\/p>\n
Still, it is clear he is making a difference and enjoys spending long hours at that beautiful spot practising the art of restoration.<\/p>\n
\u2013 David Clements<\/a> PhD, is a professor of biology and environmental studies at Trinity Western University <\/p>\n . <\/p>\n READ MORE: <\/p>\n GREEN BEAT LANGLEY: Mesmerized by reflowing of the Rio Grande<\/a><\/a><\/p>\n GREEN BEAT LANGLEY: Serpent sound that rattles <\/a> <\/p>\n GREEN BEAT LANGLEY: King of the desert<\/a> <\/p>\n LANGLEY GREEN BEAT: A different type of white Christmas<\/a> <\/p>\n LANGLEY GREEN BEAT: Can water issues be turned around for Truth and Consequence?<\/a> <\/p>\n LANGLEY GREEN BEAT: New admirer of a B.C. treasure<\/a> <\/p>\n LANGLEY GREEN BEAT: Students spare a hug for Big Lonely Doug <\/a> <\/p>\n