Why Bother with Biodiversity?

 So we know what biodiversity is, but why study it? Why is it important?

Studying biodiversity helps us to understand the health of an area and identify any problems that are occurring. It's important to regularly study an area and gauge any patterns that could be concerning. For example, if a species meant to be in that area is missing or if there is a lack of biodiversity - what is causing that? What species are there? If an area is full of diversity - what stewardship practices are in place that are contributing to the success? 

Regularly studying an area's biodiversity can also help monitor the impacts of targeted stewardship and establish management plans that can help restore an area with poor biodiversity. An example of this would be proactively removing invasive species and watching for native species to return. 

But, why does it matter? An area that is biodiverse and healthy helps our lives. A biodiverse ecosystem means that the soil is healthier - meaning erosion is less likely. The water is healthier, making it safer to recreate in. These are just two small examples of how supporting and studying biodiversity can benefit and enrich our lives. 


 Juvenile Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)


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