The Sustainability “Eco-Ed” Series will feature a presentation on the book, Environmental Missouri, by Don Corrigan at the Webster Groves Public Library at 7 p.m., May 7.
by Don Corrigan
Volunteers with two city commissions are joining hands to provide Webster Groves area residents with some free “Eco-Ed.” The once-a-month ecology education sessions begin in March with energy efficiency and continue through October.
“Malachi Rein, director of Building Energy Exchange of St. Louis, is going to kick off the series with timely information about why and how to make buildings and residences more energy-efficient,” said Karen Anderson.
“This first session on sustainability is at the Webster Groves Public Library at 7 p.m. on March 5,” said Anderson. “A pillar of the sustainability concept is to save money, while reducing resources used for energy, food needs and so much more.”
Anderson is a member of the Sustainability Commission. Carrie Coyne is a member of the Green Space Advisory Commission. Coyne said not all the “Eco-Ed” sessions are inside. An April 17 event will be at 5:30 p.m. outdoors at Southwest Park.
“Participants should bring their walking shoes for a guided walking session with arborist David Gunn,” said Coyne. “Dave will discuss tree anatomy, soil structure, basic tree identification, and some of his favorite trees.
“He’ll also answer questions about trees and sustainability along the way with talk on the walk,” added Coyne. “Come prepared for a one-mile stroll through the park to see some of the most interesting trees in Webster Groves.”
Coyne could not resist noting Webster’s tree heritage in reference to the Gunn presentation. She said the city’s tree heritage has taken a hit over the past decade due to pests, disease and severe storms.
“Over the past 10 years there has been a visible impact with the decline of our Webster Groves urban forest,” said Coyne. “The city has lost over 1,400 trees in the parks and right-of-ways.
“Our Green Space Commission has developed a volunteer initiative, ‘Green Our City,’ to begin replacing the right-of-way trees,” said Coyne. “The program has planted 43 trees to date. It’s an amazing citizen effort, but those numbers are a fraction of our replacement needs.”
Trees & Energy Costs
Coyne noted that trees along hot asphalt streets and in neighborhoods provide shade and reduce energy costs. Trees also are an economic benefit in helping maintain property values.
In addition to “Eco-Ed” sessions on energy savings and tree benefits, the program will offer two more spring sessions in May and June with a return to the Webster Groves Public Library.
A session on May 7 by Don Corrigan will focus on the wide range of sustainability issues that offer possibilities for citizen involvement. These include solar energy, yard waste and mulching, electric vehicles and charging stations, rain gardens and rain barrels.
A session on June 4 will focus on bees and supporting pollinators in your own backyard. The program by Nicole Miller-Struttmann, an associate professor of Biology at Webster University.
According to Karen Anderson, the “Eco-Ed” series will be deemed a success if attendees walk away with increased knowledge and an understanding of the subject matter – and a desire to make some lifestyle changes.
“Individual citizens can be powerful agents for a greener and more sustainable future through even small actions,” said Anderson. “These might include reducing consumption, reusing resources wherever possible, buying locally-made products, repairing instead of replacing, and recycling.”
Anderson said she hopes young people take advantage of the free series. She noted that idealistic young people are yearning for ways to address climate change and environmental degradation.
“The fear of environmental decline is known as eco-anxiety and this weighs heavily on younger generations,” said Anderson. “They can frequently feel helpless and depressed about our environmental future.
“Sustainability activism can provide empowerment, purpose, nature connections, and a sense of community,” she added. “Working with others toward a better future can provide a sense of meaning and belonging.”
Fall “Eco-Ed” Sessions
After a brief hiatus in July and August, the “Eco-Ed” series will pick up in the fall with two more sessions. A Sept. 3 meeting is titled: “The Results are in: “Webster Groves Greenhouse Gas Inventory.”
The session on the inventory program will be presented by Sharon Locke, professor of environmental sciences at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville; and by Shawn Finnegan, who serves as sustainability coordinator for Webster Groves.
Webster Groves has enlisted SIU-Edwardsville to conduct a Greenhouse Gas Inventory (GHG) for the city. A GHG is a comprehensive assessment of the amount of greenhouse gases a community emits within its boundaries.
Communities with GHG inventories can attract funding and partnerships from government agencies to support emission reduction initiatives and improve quality of life. Also, sharing inventory findings with residents can raise awareness about climate change and local impacts.
The final “Eco-Ed” session is slated for Oct. 1 and is titled, “Watershed Wander: Shady Creek Discovery,” conducted by David Wilson. He will lead an eye-opening walking tour of the Shady Creek Watershed in Larson Park.
All of the Eco-Ed Speaker Series events will be described on the City’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/webstergrovescity/events and on the city calendar at https://www.webstergrovesmo.gov/Calendar.aspx.
Environmental Echo 