Despite the fact that I spend a lot of time advocating for clean energy and environmental protection, I’ve never considered myself much of a nature lover. Most of my passion for environmentalism has been founded in the view that we should value preserving the Earth’s ecosystems and resources because human society is dependent on them.
This year, though, I’ve come around more than I thought I ever would to having a sincere appreciation for the aesthetic and intrinsic value of the natural world. I’ve started visiting places in the state that are sanctuaries for some incredible biodiversity and scenery. I’ve made a couple of trips to Conowingo Dam, which is a result of a large hydroelectric plant in the lower Susquehanna River. Conowingo is one of the top birding hotspots in the country, with hundreds of bald eagles, great blue herons, gulls and plenty of other species. Bird enthusiasts, photographers and tourists flock for the incredible view while fishermen compete with the birds for the fish. Near Conowingo is Susquehanna State Park, full of trails and miles of forests.
I’ve written a couple of columns about the need the state government to protect the Mattawoman Creek, one of the most pristine fishing tributaries in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. I’ve also written about preserving Chapman Forest, which contains more than 2,000 acres of rich biodiversity. This May I was given a tour of both of these areas in Charles County, and writing about them isn’t justice unless you see them in person. I couldn’t go diving in the Gulf of Mexico or take a boat out to coral reefs, but I did go to the National Aquarium in Baltimore and see up close sea creatures of all sorts living in simulated ecosystems. Throw on top of that a triathlon in Tuckahoe State Park on the Eastern Shore, and it’s been quite a year so far!
When I was walking through Chapman State Park and dipping my fingers in Mattawoman Creek, something unexpected happened: All these memories started coming back to me from when I was a kid, before the PlayStation 2 took over my teenage years and the Internet found its way into my home. It was like I had just recovered from amnesia that had blocked out the first half of my life. I spent a lot of my time as a kid outside, exploring the woods around my old house, chasing fish in the stream that ran in front and frequently visiting places with my dad such as the aquarium and the zoo.
These memories made me realize that my passion today for protecting the planet might be largely humanitarian, but subliminally it’s grounded in the enjoyment I found in my youth from exploring nature. It’s something that’s missing in too many of our lives today, where we’re so caught up in the latest iPhone from Apple or the newest application on Facebook.
I’m not going to change to the point where seeing a rare plant species makes my day, or where I spend every day hiking in the woods. But I’ve learned this year that in order to keep my passion for my advocacy indefatigable, it helps to see in the flesh what I’m fighting to protect. I’d encourage everyone, environmentalist or not, to give themself that chance every so often. It’s worth it.
Matt Dernoga graduated in May with a degree in government and politics. He can be reached at dernoga at umdbk dot com.
