callery pear flowering in field bordering a Fishers nature preserve res for CC op ed
Callery pear flowering in a field bordering a nature preserve
White blossoms mask the new ‘silent spring’ threat
Written By: Cliff Chapman
Date Published: April 24, 2024
Cliff Chapman
by Cliff Chapman
President, Central Indiana Land Trust
Those white-flowering trees you see along the highways and in neighborhoods throughout Central Indiana might seem like a welcome harbinger of spring, but they actually represent a threat similar to one recognized more than 60 years ago in the landmark book Silent Spring.
In 1962, author Rachel Carson warned that Americans could lose one of their beloved hallmarks of spring – bird songs – to their own misguided activities. Now we face a similar threat. The question is, will we respond as the nation did then and turn back the threat?
Silent Spring took its name from the revelation that robins were being poisoned by pesticides sprayed on American elms, but its message reached beyond that single danger. Silent Spring explained how the impact of pesticides affected the food chain and threatened life from worms and fishes to bald eagles and humans. The book awakened the world to a global crisis and engaged the public to protect and restore the natural environment.
We face another such crisis today, albeit one masked by lovely blooms: We have allowed invasive plants to spread freely. And that could leave us facing a reprise of Carson’s dreaded silent spring.
Looking around, it’s easy to see (and smell) this crisis. The pungent Callery pear trees blooming white in late March and early April appear not just in the neighborhoods where they were planted but also in empty fields, along roadsides and in forests. And those shrubs that leafed out weeks before anything else in Indiana? Those are invasive Asian bush honeysuckle.
You might ask, “What’s the problem?” After all, people paid for those trees and bushes to be planted in their yards and commercial properties, and, while they might not be native to this area, they look as nice as other vegetation. Well, the problem is that, in addition to spreading prolifically, these plants disrupt nature.
For example, Callery pear trees are insect-resistant, which means they offer no food for native spiders and insects. While that, too, could seem like a minor problem to some, its impact extends throughout the food chain, including birds like those robins Carson wrote about in 1962.
As for Asian bush honeysuckle, it leafs out earlier than native shrubs, attracting shrub-nesting birds such as wood thrush and American robins. Unfortunately, nesting in these shrubs spells danger for the birds, because Asian bush honeysuckle has stiffer branches than native shrubs, allowing predators like raccoons to climb into them to eat eggs. The impact? A Morton Arboretum study of 600 such nests found that nearly all of them had their eggs eaten by predators.
And thus the proliferation of invasive species marches us ever closer to our own silent spring.
There is hope. In the 1960s, when Carson identified the problem, people rallied to take steps to solve it. Now species like bald eagles that were at the edge of extinction are thriving throughout the nation, including in Central Indiana.
Today, the problem is as clear as it was to Carson six decades ago. The solutions are, too: Stop planting invasive species. Reject invasives when landscapers recommend them. Urge lawmakers to add invasives like Callery pear trees to the list of plant species banned in Indiana. Remove invasive species and replace them with native plants and trees. Every single one of them.
It can be done, and the impact is remarkable. Asian bush honeysuckle, for example, has become ubiquitous in urban and suburban areas, but it can be controlled with a little effort. In places like Oliver’s Woods Nature Preserve on Indianapolis’ north side, where it has been removed, nature bounces back quickly and decisively.
The evidence? Pause for a time at Oliver’s Woods and you will hear plenty of birdcalls, from the robins that sparked Carson’s concern to bald eagles that nest nearby. In other words, you will experience not the dreaded silent spring but, instead, the sounds of nature and humanity working hand-in-hand. The question is, will you hear those sounds as a wake-up call?
Note: A shorter version of this piece ran in the Indy Star.
Ben Valentine
Guest Blogger
Ben Valentine is a founding member of the Friends of Marott Woods Nature Preserve and is active in several other conservation organizations. He leads a series of NUVO interviews with Indiana's environmental leaders, and he cherishes showing his son all the wonders of nature he grew up loving.
DJ Connors
Guest Blogger
DJ Connors, a Central Indiana native and late-to-life hunter, combines a lifelong appreciation for wildlife and the outdoors with a deep passion for exploring the natural beauty of the area he has called home for most of his life. As a husband and father of three, he is committed to ensuring his children have the same opportunities to connect with nature and appreciate the outdoors in their community. DJ’s unique journey into hunting emphasizes sustainability, responsible stewardship, and the importance of preserving these experiences for future generations.
Bridget Walls
Guest Blogger
Bridget is our first ever Communications and Outreach Intern. She is a graduate of Marian University, where she combined English, studio art, and environmental sciences in her degree studies. As treasurer for Just Earth, the university's environmental club, she helped plan events encouraging a responsible relationship between people, nature, and animals.
Jordan England
Guest Blogger
Jordan England is a lifelong Shelby County resident who graduated from Waldron Jr. Sr. High School (just a few miles from Meltzer Woods!). After earning her B.S. degree in Retail Management from Purdue University, she returned to Waldron to start a family with her husband, Brian. Together they have 3 young children and enjoy sharing with them their love of the community. Jordan is the Grants and Nonprofit Relations Director at Blue River Community Foundation, managing BRCF’s grant program, providing support to local nonprofits, and promoting catalytic philanthropy in Shelby County.
Cliff Chapman
President and CEO
As CILTI’s President and CEO, Cliff keeps CILTI’s focus on good science and stewardship. He’s mindful that the natural places you love took thousands of years to evolve and could be destroyed in a single day, and that knowledge drives his dedication to their protection.
Stacy Cachules
Chief Operating Officer
Among her many key duties as Assistant Director, Stacy has the critical task of tracking our budget, making sure we channel donations for maximum efficiency. When her workday’s done, Stacy loves to spend time with her two young boys—and when not traveling, she’s likely planning the next travel adventure.
Ryan Fuhrmann
Vice Chair
Ryan C. Fuhrmann, CFA, is President and founder of Fuhrmann Capital LLC, an Indiana-based investment management firm focused on portfolio management. Ryan’s interest in land conservation centers around a desire to help preserve natural habitats for wildlife and the subsequent benefits it brings to people and the environment.
Joanna Nixon
Board Member
Joanna Nixon is the owner of Nixon Consulting, an Indianapolis-based strategy and project management firm focused on the nonprofit sector. She currently serves as the Philanthropic Advisor for the Efroymson Family Fund. Prior to opening her consulting practice in 2000, Joanna was vice-president for grantmaking at Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF). Joanna has more than 25 years of experience in the nonprofit and arts and culture sector. She is passionate about the environment and loves bringing big ideas to life and creating high-quality arts and culture programs and experiences. Joanna enjoys outdoor adventures, including competing in fitness obstacle course races and hiking with her high energy Australian Cattle Dog, Jackson.
Karen Wade
Board Member
Before retiring, CILTI board member Karen Wade worked for Eli Lilly & Co. In retirement she volunteers for a number of organizations, including the Indiana Master Naturalist program, Johnson County Native Plant Partnership CISMA, Meadowstone Therapeutic Riding Center, and Leadership Johnson County.
David Barickman
Development Systems Manager
Born and raised in Central Illinois, David spent many days as a child wandering around the river, forest and lakes there. He works behind the scenes as a key member of our fundraising team. When not working, David loves to be outdoors hiking, fly fishing, kayaking or woodworking.
Jamison Hutchins
Stewardship Director
Jamison leads our stewardship team in caring for the land that is so important to you. He comes to our team after eight years as Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator for the city of Indianapolis, where his work had a positive impact from both health and environmental perspectives.
Jen Schmits Thomas
Media Relations
An award-winning communicator and recognized leader in Central Indiana’s public relations community, Jen helps us tell our story in the media. She is the founder of JTPR, which she and her husband John Thomas own together. She is accredited in public relations (APR) from the Public Relations Society of America, and loves to camp and hike in perfect weather conditions.
Shawndra Miller
Communications Director
Shawndra’s earliest writing projects centered around the natural world, starting when a bird inspired her to write her first “book” in elementary school. Now she is in charge of sharing our story and connecting you to our work. Through our print and online materials, she hopes to inspire your participation in protecting special places for future generations.
Phillip Weldy
Stewardship Specialist
Phillip enjoys nature’s wonders from an up-close-and-personal perspective as he works to restore the natural places you love. As an AmeriCorps member in Asheville, NC, he had his first full immersion in relatively undisturbed land while reconstructing wilderness trails in National Parks and National Forests.
December 2, 2025
Our board member, John Bacone, reflects on conserving key natural areas. He led the Department of Natural Resources Division of Nature Preserves for over four decades. Years ago, when I was working in the Indiana DNR Division of Nature Preserves (DNP), I asked Bob Waltz, the State Entomologist, how [...]
Betley Woods,Blossom Hollow,Homepage,Meltzer Woods,Newsroom,Properties,Stewardship
September 26, 2025
Want to see more nature protected in 2025 and beyond? Now is your chance to make twice the difference for Indiana’s lands, waters, and wildlife.
Fred & Dorothy Meyer Nature Preserve,Newsroom,Properties,Stewardship
June 26, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Acquisition adds to property set aside for wildlife habitat and shielded from development The Central Indiana Land Trust, Inc. (CILTI) has closed on the purchase of an 80-acre forested parcel in Brown County, adding to a cluster of protected properties and ensuring habitats endure for several [...]
Newsroom,Press Releases,Properties
