Nature Conservancy explains Biodiversity and its importance to the Environment
Ponder's Tract
DELAWARE – We see diversity in many areas, but what about in biology? Bacteria, Birds, and Blueberries. All of these are examples of biodiversity and it’s that variety of life that makes up our society.
Stewardship Manager of the Nature Conservancy Natasha Whetzel tells us why this is so important to our ecosystem. “Biodiversity is a critical component of a functioning, healthy, ecosystem… Biodiversity essentially refers to all living things, which includes our plants, our animals, our fungi, our microorganisms, – and how all of these different things work together and interact to maintain balance and promote life.”
Whetzel tells us the balance is in question in Delaware, and her colleague, Emily Knearl, agrees. Knearl has been doing this work for over 20 years and she is currently the Director of External Affairs for the state of Delaware. “We are on track to lose a million animal, wildlife, floral, and fauna species by 2050… So, it’s important to think of nature as an interdependent web… About 75% of our food system on this planet depends upon pollinators.”
Partial blame for the decline in biodiversity is climate change and human activity. They are pushing for new development to not interfere with wetlands and forest areas. “Even the smallest piece matters, Scientists have started to use the term Insect Armageddon, and the implication is we are losing so many insect species so rapidly, we’ll going to see potential radical changes to our environment,” says Knearl.
To protect Delaware’s native wildlife, the conservancy has supported legislation that requires landscapers to only use and sell native plants in the State according to Whetzel. “We do have a large issue with non-native invasive plants. One of the main reasons for that is people landscaping and introducing these non-natives into their yard, and eventually they will escape and move into our native forest.”
In the end, Emily Knearl says these efforts will protect Delaware’s ecosystem for future generations. “Delaware’s #1 industry is the agriculture industry- and the ag industry in Delaware, like so many other communities, depends on a healthy environment.”
The Nature Conservancy of Delaware says you can help at home by planting native species around your house, and the best way to protect marine and wildlife is to not feed them, and give them the space that nature provides.
