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As he oversees an invasive-removal project to restore dunes in Humboldt County, naturalist Justin Legge connects people and nature for the benefits of both.
On a spit of land between Humboldt Bay and the Pacific is the Humboldt Coastal Nature Center, where naturalist and Restoration Manager Justin Legge leads us along a trail through the dunes to show off an invasive-removal project. With every word, Justin’s enthusiasm is infectious on the sparkling clear day. Topics range from famed scholar Alexander Von Humboldt (namesake of the county) to Cherokee polymath Sequoyah; from the dunes’ seismic origins to the unique ecosystems in the nearby redwood canopy. He discusses the economy of Humboldt County, and the best places to experience nature.
See our article The Redwoods of Humboldt County about visiting this less-traveled corner of California that boasts the world’s tallest trees and is looking to tourism to improve its economy and protect its resources.
Justin is one of those people who can’t help but share both a deep knowledge and a deep love of the ecosystems of Humboldt County, from the towering redwoods to the humblest native plants nestled in the dunes. Friends of the Dunes protects 122 acres of oceanfront property that connect the community to the sea, and as we reach the section of dunes closest to the ocean, we see piles of dying grass recently pulled from the sand.
One reason for Justin’s excitement is evident: On one side of the trail is an almost unbroken mat of European beach grass (Ammophila arenaria) smothering the dune ecosystem; on the other side, where work crews (including volunteers) have completed the back-breaking task of digging out the invasive, a mosaic of native plants carpets the foredunes, with healthy patches of bare sand. The beach grass was planted in the early 1900s to prevent erosion but worked too well. “Sand and beaches like to move,” Justin says. The invasive grass, while overwhelming to native flora, doesn’t provide the same protection from storms and tsunamis as the natives. Hence the multi-year project to restore the dunes. And while the crews have to dig out the invasive grasses several times, they don’t have to plant anything. “We just kill the bad stuff and Mother Nature does the rest on her own.”
Justin also works as a private nature guide, and believes in the healing power of “nature immersion.” He offers tours customized to the desires of clients, from naturalist tours delving deep into the region’s ecology to “forest therapy experiences” that bring clients to the forest to focus on the moment. He says it can be intimidating, but the Japanese practice of Shinrin-yoku (forest bathing) is about breathing in the chemical compounds emitted by trees to improve health — though Justin prefers to emphasize the mental health effects of being surrounded by nature.
After an hour speaking with him, you realize that Justin lives in this inspiring virtuous circle, helping people heal nature and allowing nature to heal people.
To learn more, visit the Humboldt Coastal Nature Center, or contact Justin directly at RedwoodGuide.org.
