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Why Should We Conserve Biodiversity?

Many people ask the question, “Why should I care if the California condor goes extinct,” or “Will it really make a difference if there are no more Fender's Blue butterflies?”  Often people cannot answer these questions because they don’t see the connection between humans and the natural world, and that a single change in an ecosystem can cause a chain reaction throughout the system. Each species has its own role in an ecosystem and can be essential to the continued health of a functioning system. Let's say the Fender's Blue Butterfly goes extinct. The plant that the Fender's Blue pollinates is going to be negatively affected because it can't reproduce. All the animals that depend on that plant for food will also be affected because they will have nothing to eat, and the cascading effect continues...

Without genetic biodiversity the variety of foods we eat would be limited. Biodiversity allows us a variety of tomatoes, potatoes, and corn to eat. The fruits and vegetables we eat depend on the diversity of insects that pollinate these plants. Biodiversity allows the continued health of ecosystems providing us with healthy trees to build our houses and clean streams to collect fish to eat. Biodiversity regulates our atmosphere proving us with fresh air to breath. Substances extracted from a diversity of plants make up medicines humans use to live a long and healthy life. Diverse habitats also provide humans a place to relax, to connect to the natural world, and recharge our internal batteries.

You too can help conserve biodiversity by doing little things to become more educated:

1. Learn about the biodiversity in your area
2. Increase biodiversity in your backyard by creating a bird or butterfly friendly garden
3. Support local conservation organizations who are trying to protect biodiversity
4. Visit a national park where biodiversity is being protected for all to enjoy
5. Tell others! Spread the word about how interconnected we are with our environment and how much we depend on the continued conservation of BIODIVERSITY.

Click on the links below to learn more about why we should conserve biodiversity:

Extinction

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banner photos: yellow flowers at Lassen, Charles Webber © California Academy of Sciences

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