To boardwalk or not to boardwalk: that is the question. I see this quite controversial topic as one that comes with a “win or lose” type scenario. What is a bog? A bog is a wet muddy ground too soft to support a heavy body. Where do humans fall in this scenario as it regards to nature? As a bog is nature and should be an area that humans should be able to interact with, this sense of nature renders the question of utter destruction.
Here, humans are forced to take a side. Either build a boardwalk or accessibility point to be able to view the bog for its natural beauty, which comes with some side effects: many will make the point that the boardwalk restricts natural plants, animals, and wildlife species to the area. The other side would be to restrict the bog and preserve its nature as it is, with the end goal of allowing natural plants, and local animals not to die off due to increased interaction with the land, but thrive and grow with the potential to reproduce.
Clearly, Brown’s Bog and its preservation methods point to method number one. Although I didn’t myself notice the destruction of any plants native to the area, I agree with the argument that someday it very much will. Foot traffic, the construction of a boardwalk, and other human made features may impact the growth of this naturally occurring, beautiful landscape. It may be interesting to visit Brown’s Bog again in a few years, and notice any structural differences, as to weigh them against how it looks today.
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