[APWG] invasive species in theme parks

[Jeremy Taylor]

This is certainly an interesting topic to explore! I know that many of
the various theme parks, zoos, etc. around the country (and world, I
would assume) do a large majority of their landscaping with non-native
plants.  I worked at Disney's Animal Kingdom for 3 1/2 years, and the
Disney theme parks are a perfect example of this- the African section of
the park was largely landscaped with African species, the Asian section
with Asian species, etc...  They wanted the different lands to look as
authentic as they could, and in some cases actually brought seeds and/or
plants back from the various countries where they were doing the
pre-construction research.  I don't think you are ever going to get such
places to "go native" with their landscaping, simply due to the look
that they are trying to achieve with regards to authentic appearance,
etc.  Many zoos will do this as well, to make the enclosure/habitat for
the animals on display look like the native habitat.  Perhaps focusing
on ways to contain the invasive/exotic plants to the theme park, zoo,
garden, etc. would be more feasible??  Interesting stuff!!

Jeremy

Jeremy Taylor
ACSP Staff Ecologist
Audubon International
46 Rarick Road
Selkirk, NY 12158
Phone (518) 767-9051 ext. 24
Fax (518) 767-9076
email: jtaylor at auduboninternational.org
http://www.auduboninternational.org
 


-----Original Message-----
From: Patricia_DeAngelis at fws.gov [mailto:Patricia_DeAngelis at fws.gov] 
Sent: Tuesday, June 14, 2005 11:52 AM
To: apwg at lists.plantconservation.org
Subject: [APWG] invasive species in theme parks






Here's a high profile way to focus on invasive problems - getting theme
parks to think native!

I came across the following article as I was doing research on the
invasive Australian tree fern, Cyathea cooperi.  I was floored by the
plethora of invasive species or relatives of invasives described in
"Dino Island."  The park is lauded as a botanical garden ("the best one
in San Diego"!).  More correctly, it appears to be a botanic garden to
showcase invasives!  I'm not certain when this piece was published, but
are there any efforts to conduct outreach with public fora such as this?

http://www.landscapeonline.com/research/article/4631

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Legoland: A Theme Park for Landscape Architects

 By Leslie McGuire, regional editor

 

   The entrance to Dino Island is lush with giant lily turf (Lirope
[sic] gigantean), Australian   
 tree fern (Cyathea cooperi) and leopard plant (Ligularia tussilaginea)
with an under planting of  
  Berkeley sedge (Carex tumicola) and Myers asparagus (Asparagus
densiflorus'Myers'). A difficult  
  issue with recycled water was that using traditional sprays meant that
salts would build up on   
     the models. As it is, the models have to be continuously replaced
because of sun damage.      
 

 

 Legoland, and its recently opened new attraction, Dino Island, may be
fun for kids, but it's      
 actually a theme park for landscape architects. True it has games,
rides, interactive learning    
 opportunities and everything children love, however it's really a
botanical garden-a park within  
 a park-and the best one in San Diego.

 

 

 





Patricia S. De Angelis, Ph.D.
Botanist - Division of Scientific Authority
Chair - Plant Conservation Alliance - Medicinal Plant Working Group US
Fish & Wildlife Service 4401 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 750 Arlington, VA
22203 703-358-1708 x1753
FAX: 703-358-2276
Working for the conservation and sustainable use of our green natural
resources. <www.nps.gov/plants/medicinal>