Conservation
Simply put;
Conservation is the act of protecting Earth's natural resources for current and future generations. There's a common misbelief that "someone else" is taking care of the environmental health of our community. There's too much at stake for you to not be involved and becoming a birder is a great introduction to understanding how all things in nature are connected.
By observing and studying birds and their habitat, we learn from this one connection how plants and animals evolved together over millions of years to carve out their best options for survival. Coevolution and in some cases, symbiotic relationships have been thriving even before humans entered the picture.
We can appreciate this in our observation of birds if we pay enough attention.
St. James and Conservation
The overall long-term success of the St. James community will depend on our attention and dedication to preserving the natural heritage of the land. All property owners will, collectively, determine our success or failure. You can help ensure a favorable outcome by becoming an active birding member of our group.
Once an extensive coastal pine forest plantation, our area contributed to the region's naval store supplies. In some areas of St. James, you can still see neatly planted rows of pine. In addition, rich marshland to include salt marsh, brackish marsh, mud flats, and estuarine communities provide prime habitat for marine life. This coastal floodplain forest has given way to development so that now, only small fragments remain, such as some of the 500 acres protected and considered undevelopable. Coastal conservation is an ongoing focus with a respect for multiple ecosystems, biodiversity, and preservation. And it's crucial to your overall health. With this in mind, it should be obvious that we should care, and act accordingly.
The Birders of St. James promotes the wise use of our limited natural resources and encourages the following:
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Household recycling to reduce landfill.
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Decreased landscape turf to provide more natural, native plantings. Native plants reduce long-term costs.
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Consider sharing your property with local wildlife by providing natural food, cover, and places to raise young. Not only will this improve our local ecosystem, it also helps to improve your wellbeing too.
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Use sustainable gardening practices which include reducing turf and using little to no pesticides or chemicals. With all the ponds and drainage ditches in St. James, this is highly important to our health.
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One of the most valuable things you can do is write a letter to local and state officials and voice your concern for responsible, sustainable choices in growth, business, transportation and other issues.
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Check out our "Resources" page for additional information.
Conservation begins with you, and your landscape!
Conserving Natural Habitats
and the Species They Support
An interesting and important read
on conservation from the
North Carolina Resources Commission:
Key resource links regarding the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality:
"If you take care of birds, you take care of most of the environment problems in the world."
- Dr. Thomas Lovejoy
