The people living in Washington have been resounding the idea of greenery and the significance of environmental stewardship. On the other hand, only a few miles away from the Capitol and the White House, there is a completely different picture. Greed is wreaking havoc on the environment in the form of the Fairfax Development.
This new project is destroying the wildlife that is found there and dismantling the natural ecosystems of that place in an unprecedented manner. An additional 100 acres of old forestland was reduced to dust within a fraction of a second during this month. This is mainly due to the Fairfax Development project that aims to build big houses across a vast landscape covering 5 acres of Fairfax County.
This county certainly faces a shortage of cheap and affordable housing facilities but this development will not help in resolving these issues. The forests are at least 50-100 years of age and consist of well-established biodiversity. These forests had been successfully reclaimed from the industrial and farming age. The present condition of this forest appears to be bleak compared to the 1937 aerial photos of the woodlands. Presently this region is a suburban sprawl that is very unsustainable.
These natural spaces have now been transformed into neighborhoods. Builders have been asked to plant small saplings in order to replace some of the 100-year-old oak trees in the region. However, it is not sufficient. Adding useless plants which are toxic for the wild birds does not seem good enough.
Read Sea-level Rise Creating ‘Ghost Forests’ By Killing Atlantic Coastline Trees
100-Year Old Forest Destroyed By Fairfax Development
Credits Bureau of Global Public Affairs, U.S. Department of State
The people of Fairfax County must stop pointing fingers towards other countries and take preventive measures against the detrimental practices happening there. They must take immediate steps to protect their forested areas, specifically the well-established and ancient ones. Woodlands have a thick canopy that prevents infestation of invasive species including Bradford pear, autumn olive, and Japanese honeysuckle. All these species overwhelm native plants because they are unsuitable to wild animals and birds.
In addition, forested areas certainly trap carbon that keeps the earth’s atmosphere much cooler. Nonetheless, wild inhabitants and their habitats get destroyed during construction and the Fairfax Development has the same impact. The present unsustainable methods and rapid bulldozing of wild regions drive the animals away from their natural habitats, towards danger.
It is a known fact that canaries face immense dangers due to mines. Similarly, turtles are also faced with a great threat and suggest environmental irreversibility. The turtle called the eastern box has already been listed as greatly endangered in Maine while Virginia has categorized it as a species requiring the largest conservation. Fairfax Development along with numerous other projects are responsible for pushing these crucial species to the verge of extinction.
Read Rainforest Logging In British Columbia’s Great Bear Is A Huge Loophole
Preventive Measures For Climate Crisis
The cost of perpetually building development projects by clearing land for the purpose of malls, housing facilities, and commercial hubs is too high. Potential housing purchasers must demand better stewardship from the land developers and builders before shelling out the cash. The primary reason is that irresponsible developers like Fairfax Development utilize this cash for further building projects that will destroy more woodlands.
Hence, builders must take these steps:
1: Selective and sensitive tree-cutting. Cutting the trees if absolutely necessary and keeping the land as undisturbed as possible. Spare older trees. Government bodies must reward such efforts.
2: Provide alternative shelter to displaced animals. Rehabilitation efforts must be prioritized.
3: Plant native trees like dogwoods and redbuds instead of planting ornamentals that have an adverse impact on wildlife.
The Fairfax Development project for housing increases the threat to the environment. Such projects must be strictly supervised by environmental activist groups and government bodies.
