Pacific University Indigenous Student Alliance helps restore historic wetlands – Hillsboro News Times

Report on the Restoration of Wapato Lake Wetlands and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Project Overview and Historical Context

A restoration initiative at the Wapato Lake National Wildlife Refuge in Gaston is underway, led by a multi-stakeholder partnership that includes the Pacific University’s Indigenous Student Alliance. The project focuses on restoring a wetland of significant historical and cultural importance to the Tualatin Kalapuya, a Native American community that traditionally lived, traded, and cultivated crops in the area. The original wetland was drained to create farmland, leading to the disruption of the local ecology and the cessation of Indigenous cultural practices tied to the land. This restoration effort directly contributes to SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by working to protect and safeguard invaluable cultural and natural heritage.

Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity (SDG 15: Life on Land)

The primary activity of the project involves the reintroduction of native flora, with a focus on planting wapato (an edible tuber also known as duck potato) and other native grasses. This work is fundamental to achieving the goals of SDG 15 (Life on Land), which calls for the protection, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems. By re-establishing a plant community that supports wildlife and stabilizes the soil, the initiative directly addresses the target of restoring freshwater ecosystems and halting biodiversity loss.

The project’s objectives in relation to SDG 15 include:

• Returning the landscape to its original ecological state.
• Reintroducing wapato, a traditional food source and keystone species for the wetland.
• Rebuilding a resilient plant community that supports local wildlife.
• Revitalizing traditional ecological knowledge for sustainable land management.

Collaborative Partnerships for Sustainable Development (SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals)

The success of the Wapato Lake restoration is a testament to effective collaboration, a core principle of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). The initiative unites diverse stakeholders in a common mission to achieve sustainable outcomes.

1. Academic Institution: Pacific University’s Indigenous Student Alliance provides student volunteers and academic leadership.
2. Indigenous Community: A member of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde provides essential traditional knowledge for the reintroduction of wapato.
3. Government Agency: The Wapato Lake National Wildlife Refuge staff facilitates and supports the restoration work on federal land.
4. Non-Profit Organization: The Portland-based nonprofit Friends of Trees helps organize volunteers and coordinate planting events.

Educational and Cultural Revitalization (SDGs 4 & 10)

The project serves as a powerful vehicle for education and cultural revitalization, aligning with SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). For students like Shelline Nerup, a senior in applied sustainability, participation has provided invaluable hands-on experience that has shaped her vocational path and fostered personal growth. This experiential learning model promotes education for sustainable development.

Furthermore, the project’s mission to revitalize traditional ecological knowledge and share the history of the land’s Indigenous stewards directly supports SDG 10. By centering Indigenous practices and creating an inclusive community that celebrates heritage, the initiative works to empower and promote the social inclusion of Indigenous peoples. Advisor Nikol Roubidoux noted the goal is to “share knowledge of the Indigenous people who were here and how they cared for the land sustainably for thousands of years,” thereby fostering a greater appreciation for cultural diversity and sustainable living.

Analysis of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

   • SDG 15: Life on Land: The core of the article focuses on the ecological restoration of the Wapato Lake wetland, a terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystem.
   • SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The project aims to restore a site of significant cultural heritage for the Tualatin Kalapuya people, linking ecological work to the preservation of Indigenous cultural practices.
   • SDG 4: Quality Education: The involvement of the Pacific University Indigenous Student Alliance highlights the educational aspect of the project, providing students with practical experience in sustainability and traditional ecological knowledge.
   • SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: The restoration of a wetland directly contributes to the health of water-related ecosystems.
   • SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The initiative is a collaborative effort involving a university student group, a nonprofit organization, a national wildlife refuge, and a tribal nation.
   • SDG 2: Zero Hunger: The reintroduction of wapato, an “edible tuber,” connects the restoration effort to the revitalization of traditional and sustainable food sources.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

   • SDG 15: Life on Land

     • Target 15.1: Ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains and drylands. The article directly describes the effort to restore the Wapato Lake wetland by “planting wapato and other native grasses to help return the landscape to its original ecology.”
     • Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats and halt the loss of biodiversity. The project is a direct action to reverse habitat degradation caused when the lake was “drained to create farmland, erasing the damp landscape.” The goal is to “rebuild a plant community that supports wildlife.”

   • SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

     • Target 11.4: Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage. The article emphasizes that the wetland was “central to the daily life of Native American communities” and the restoration aims to revitalize “Indigenous cultural practices tied to it.”

   • SDG 4: Quality Education

     • Target 4.7: Ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development. The project provides students like Shelline Nerup, a major in “applied sustainability,” with hands-on experience that “has shaped her vocational path.” It also promotes the sharing of “traditional way of knowing — that ecological knowledge.”

   • SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

     • Target 6.6: Protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including wetlands. The entire project is focused on the restoration of the Wapato Lake wetland, a critical water-related ecosystem.

   • SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

     • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships. The project is described as a partnership between Pacific University’s Indigenous Student Alliance, the Wapato Lake National Wildlife Refuge, the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, and the nonprofit Friends of Trees.

   • SDG 2: Zero Hunger

     • Target 2.4: Ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices. The reintroduction of wapato, an “edible tuber” and a traditional food source, is a step toward restoring a sustainable and culturally significant food system.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

   • For Wetland and Habitat Restoration (Targets 15.1, 15.5, 6.6)

     • Physical Growth of Planted Species: The article implies this as a measure of success, noting the “rewarding sight of crops they planted years ago finally reaching the surface” and how volunteers can “see the physical growth of the site.”
     • Number of Volunteers and Plants: The article mentions “dozens of volunteers” who “dug holes and carefully planted wapato and native grasses,” suggesting that the scale of the planting effort is a measure of progress.

   • For Education and Sustainable Development (Target 4.7)

     • Student Career Paths: The article provides a specific example of a student, Shelline Nerup, whose work with the alliance “shaped her vocational path” and led to opportunities in habitat restoration, indicating the project’s educational impact.
     • Knowledge Sharing: The stated goal to “share knowledge of traditions — to share knowledge of the Indigenous people who were here” implies that the dissemination of this knowledge is a measure of success.

   • For Partnerships (Target 17.17)

     • Number and Diversity of Partners: The article explicitly lists the partners involved (a university alliance, a federal refuge, a tribal nation, a nonprofit), indicating that the formation and continuation of this multi-stakeholder collaboration is a key indicator of success.

   • For Cultural Heritage (Target 11.4)

     • Successful Reintroduction of Culturally Significant Species: The focus on reintroducing wapato, a plant central to the Tualatin Kalapuya culture, serves as a direct indicator of progress in revitalizing cultural practices tied to the land.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Summary

Source: hillsboronewstimes.com