Cowan Museum hosts climate-focused ecoBlast

Saturday’s ecoBlast Climate Extravaganza at the Cowan Museum of History and Science in Kenansville was a labor of love for Museum Director Robin Grotke, who rallied presenters, volunteers and organizations from across the state to educate attendees on the Earth’s climate, the influence human activity and development has upon it, how these changes are impacting agriculture, wildlife and local ecosystems in an uplifting and fun-filled fashion that was accessible to all ages.

Though the museum has previously held ecoBlast and Earth Day events, this weekend’s Climate Extravaganza was the first of its kind, a conception of the museum’s cherished STEM Educator, Anne Skinner, who organized vendors for the event prior to her retirement.

“It was very important for me to go through with this,” shared Grotke. “I wanted to do something like this for the community, and so did Anne. It’s her dream.”

Agricultural communities have by necessity an intimate relationship with climate, their livelihood and prosperity in no small shape dependent upon its requisite respect and understanding. What crops are sown, which are reaped, and whether they survive the season at all are each determined by its variation. As surface temperatures and emissions continue to increase as a result of human development, the climate is adapting – along with the ecosystems and communities that rely upon it.

“Climate change, in general, affects the extremes, the North Hemisphere and extreme Southern Hemisphere first, and then it comes downhill, so to speak. So you see more changes in the Arctic than you would here, for instance,” explained Pen Croom, treasurer of the Duplin County Beekeepers Association. “That’s why some people are able to deny it. But change is happening,” he added.

The organization maintains an apiary on the museum grounds and was present to share valuable information about how the insects impact the climate – and how the climate is impacting them.

“Our biggest challenge is land use. Loss of habitat for bees,” said Croom, echoing a sentiment shared by nearly every presenter at the event.
As humans continue to develop land and turn to new agricultural concepts such as clean farming, the perimeter of weeds and wildflowers that once rimmed fields to provide for pollinators is cut away to maximize profit.
“Bees are adaptable to a certain point, but they need our help now,” he continued.

Lisa Yemma with the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences – Whiteville also referenced the adverse effect modern agricultural practices have had on the climate.

“A lot of our farmers farm, but leave our fields like this,” she said, indicating an aerial photograph of a barren field. “They recommend a cover crop, but that just costs money. So what we’re noticing is: where does the carbon go?”

As with concrete production, carbon is released into the atmosphere,
contributing to the greenhouse effect. However, there may be a way to mitigate the damage such practices have caused.

“We know the solution – plant trees, plant crops, plant… plants!” Yemma advised, explaining that trees and other plants effectively reverse the processes that cause the Greenhouse Effect by consuming carbon and converting it into oxygen.

For Lyndon McCall of Nahunga Creek Tropicals in Warsaw, rising temperatures are less concerning than the rising fuel costs to maintain his greenhouses, though he did note that human expansion is impacting the natural habitats of certain plant species.

“Development is taking a lot of wetlands and bogs in different places where a lot of carnivorous stuff grows,” explained McCall, nodding toward a tray of Venus Fly Traps. “They’re historically found in Duplin County. They’re harder to find now because everything’s been drained.”

Representing WNCT9 of Greenville was meteorologist Christopher Tyndall, sharing vital knowledge with event-goers about severe weather preparedness as we enter the season and the effects rising temperatures are having on the weather.

“We are seeing a rise in our sea surface temperatures,” explained Tyndall. “Warm ocean water is fuel for hurricanes. In turn, we’re seeing more hurricanes.”

Coastal impacts have become evident as well, according to Tyndall, including coastal flooding, overwash, and even the collapse of houses along the outer banks as a result of the wind and waves brought by severe storms and shore erosion due to rising sea levels.

As the evolving climate drives species like the American Alligator further inland and further north in the state, ecosystems the world over are undergoing their own transitions. Coastal and maritime forests are fading, with excess salinity killing trees and leaving “ghost forests” in their place. Eventually, these will transition into salt marshes. According to Catherine Norris of the Core Sound Waterfowl Museum, the names of these new ecosystems are nothing to be afraid of; ghost forests have provided nests for waterfowl, and many species thrive in salt marshes, such as the majestic Great Egret. Nature, it seems, is changing along with the climate.

The event was made possible through collaboration with other organizations and museums within the North Carolina Science Network, all of whom are grant recipients of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, with grants administered by the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh.

“They’ve been telling us that we really need to partner together, and it’s very important for this granting program to work. So that’s what we’re trying to do,” Grotke said, adding that she hopes to help other network members with their events in the future.

In addition to the organizations represented, Master Blend Farms and Sippin’ Sunshine provided food and drinks for the event. Ten volunteers from Duplin Early College High School and James Sprunt Community College were also on hand to assist with the event and direct guests.

“I’m happy that these museums can spread their knowledge about this serious issue – and that it’s still fun for people,” remarked Grotke. Her heartfelt dedication to Anne Skinner’s dream saw it realized over the weekend beneath an atmosphere of optimism and hope.