A Need for More Native Greenery

By Jordan Young
News Reporter

Texas State and San Marcos have beautiful nature surrounding them for the community and tourists to enjoy. From Sewell Park to Purgatory creek, San Marcos has something for everyone to enjoy outdoors. Therefore, as a community protecting these outdoor areas and the wildlife that inhabits them is imperative.

Texas State is embarking on many construction projects across campus, analogous to the construction projects across Texas due to the influx of people moving to the state. These projects as a good sign of a booming economy and overall good for San Marcos and the state.

However, Texas State student Adriel Perez, a senior Wildlife Biology major, spoke up about an issue school leadership should note. Perez spoke about the lack of native greenery on campus and its impact on the local environment.

“A lot of the grasses on campus are St. Augustine, Buffalograss, or Bermuda. These are invasive species in the San Marcos area,” said Perez. “Those grasses are not useful for grazing and foraging organisms. There’s also an issue of the lack of native flowers, which would bring in more pollinators for the area, such as bees.”

As Texas State students and residents of San Marcos, you may not be able to go around town planting native grasses and plants. However, as a community, we do have the power to stop harming marine wildlife in the river.

All across the country, the dropping of confetti symbolizes a celebration, from the Super Bowl to graduation. In San Marcos, the nature that everyone enjoys is fragile, and the traditional confetti is terrible for the environment.

“Microplastics from the glitter feed into the San Marcos river, the smaller vertebrates and invertebrates consume the plastics,” said Perez. “When that happens bigger organisms consume the smaller ones filled with microplastics, causing them to die.”

The nature surrounding campus is a significant factor in students deciding if Texas State and San Marcos will be their future home. So, the next time you are floating the river or celebrating a graduation, remember to protect the great outdoors.

Featured Image by Bandera Barter