Opinion: Spring in Asheville time to reflect on plants: 'Amazing time to be a botanist'

Here in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the vibrant bursts of green emerging from bare soil and the tops of trees are a welcome sign that spring is here. Plants, along with a warm, colorful spring, are on the minds of many who are ready to leave winter behind and start spending more time outdoors.

However, our everyday lives are influenced by plant life here on Earth 365 days a year. Beyond the plants we cultivate and consume for food, whether it is the mint in a tube of toothpaste or the verdant forests that promote water quality in the Asheville Watershed, plants contribute in a dizzying variety of ways to human society and ecosystem health.

In short, plants are essential for life on Earth, providing humanity with food, fiber, artistic inspiration, medicines and the very air we breathe. Plants hold the key to addressing many of the challenges we face today, including climate change and food insecurity. And in my role as a botanist and professor, I’ve watched students fall in love with plants while exploring biodiversity in Southern Appalachia and go on to realize the far-reaching relevance of botanical knowledge.

Now is an opportune time to develop an interest in plants because the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the number of plant-science-related jobs will increase by 5-7% over the next decade, nearly double the average projected job growth rate. This growth is not only predicted to span the government, non-profit and private sectors, but also to include a variety of disciplines such as biotechnology, ecology, urban planning, agriculture and horticulture.

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Despite the predicted demand for workers with at least some botanical training, and despite the overall importance of plants, these green “silent partners” in our lives are often perceived as boring or as less relevant than animals, a phenomenon sometimes referred to as “plant blindness.” For example, when shown a photo of an elephant in its natural habitat, many people are more likely to comment on the elephant instead of the multi-species forested ecosystem surrounding the animal. This may be in part due to our evolution; our human sensory organs and responses are highly attuned to the movements of fellow animals that promote or threaten our survival.

Plants tend to be overlooked in in other settings as well. Plant conservation efforts, for instance, received less than 4% of the federal endangered species funding in 2011, even though they comprised 57% of federally listed endangered species at that time. In a biology class, a student will occasionally express surprise that plants (like animals) have DNA or quip “I’m sorry, but I’m just not much of a plant person.”

Such comments are not terribly surprising given that many high school and undergraduate STEM courses use animals to exemplify biological processes in nature. In recent years, it has also become harder for students to interact with trained botanists. The number of botany degree programs in the United States has declined significantly over the past two decades, and scientists with expertise in plant science are retiring faster than they are being replaced.

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Whether we admit it or not, we are all “plant people.” The term plant blindness is quite misleading. It implies that overlooking plants is an incurable disability. This is far from the truth! Over years of teaching, I’ve seen thousands of biology students develop an appreciation for plants while measuring genetic diversity of American ginseng (a native medicinal herb with cultural and ecological value), measuring photosynthesis in forest trees, or while comparing the rich array of plant communities around the world. These students have carried their botanical knowledge and enthusiasm into post-graduate careers in research, environmental stewardship, education, health care and the arts.

Hands-on classroom experiences provide great opportunities to study botany, but there are many other ways to connect with plants outside in our everyday lives. The Blue Ridge region is a plant biodiversity hotspot with hundreds of miles of trails. Asheville is also home to the Asheville Botanical Gardens, the North Carolina Arboretum, and nonprofit organizations like Asheville GreenWorks that regularly connect plants with people through workshops and outreach activities.

While some people may think a plant can’t change the world, I’ve seen the power of plants from our college campus to our local community. This is an amazing time to be a botanist — and to fall in love with plants.

Alisa Hove is an Associate Professor of Biology and Biology Department Chair at Warren Wilson College in Swannanoa, and is a "Jeopardy!" winner.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Opinion: Asheville plant awareness: Essential for life on Earth