Growing Sagebrush for Shrub Steppe Habitat Restoration and Public Outreach
by Melissa MacKelvie
Melissa MacKelvie, a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife habitat biologist for Lincoln and Whitman counties, will present her work with students and other groups to grow sagebrush and other shrub-steppe plants for habitat restoration. Her recent work with 7th and 8th grade students at the West Valley City School resulted in some shrub-steppe habitat drawings.
Currently Melissa is working with the West Valley School District’s Outdoor Learning Center to help raise awareness among young people of the value of the shrub-steppe ecosystem. The “public outreach” part of the project is as important as use of the plants they grow for restoration work on the ground.
“It can be easy to mistake arid ecosystems as empty land,” Melissa says, “but really they are full of life and provide habitat for many unique plant and animal species. The goal of this project is for kids to learn about the importance of local habitats through hands-on experience. This kind of community involvement can help protect this special ecosystem for future generations.”
Melissa grew up in Eastern Washington, which inspired her passion for shrub-steppe and arid ecosystems. She graduated from the University of Washington with a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies and also has a graduate certificate in Wildlife Management from Oregon State University. In her free time, Melissa enjoys hiking, gardening, mountain biking, reading, and spending time with her family.
