Our natural capital

When people travel to Washington, DC, one of the first things they will likely do is visit the museums, monuments, and restaurant-filled neighborhoods.   As a naturalist, my first instinct is to visit the parks and natural areas in any region I travel to.  Yet why would I try and go on a safari in the middle of Washington, DC?

Perhaps it may be surprising to know that our capital has a lot of natural capitol.  Natural capitol is any sort of natural resources that has some positive value.  For example, wetlands are usually abundant in natural capitol because the provide us with water filtration, are biologically diverse, act as a flood control mechanism, and they provide us with a source of recreation.  In Washington, DC, tidal wetlands with fresh water along the Potomac River provide a refuge for a diverse array of wildlife in a densely urban area (see photo A).  The Washington metro area is dotted with parks, trails, greenways (photo B), and freeway berms are often planted with a profusion of native trees, shrubs, and wildflowers.

Photo A:  Freshwater tidal wetland adjacent to the Potomac River as seen from Theodore Roosevelt Island.  George Washington Memorial Parkway.  Arlington, Virginia.  December 2012.

Photo B:  The Mount Vernon Trail, which runs between the George Washington Memorial Parkway and the Potomac River, provides a scenic greenway for area residents living in a highly populated region.

In urban areas across the country, small naturalized areas provide an island of habitat for wildlife.  Even something as simple as an unmowed corner of a park or a floating log on a river (Photo C) can attract animals that one would not think to see in the city.  It may also be surprising to see natural flowing streams winding throughout the city, such as Rock Creek (shown in Photo D). 

Photo C:  A floating long near the Arlington Bridge in the middle of the Potomac River in Washington, DC attracts a flock of geese and ducks in an otherwise urban river corridor.  
 Photo D:  Rock Creek in Washington, DC. 

Our nation's capitol is a great place to explore nature.  Perhaps on your visit to this great city you could add a short hike or nature walk on your sightseeing list.  

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