What’s the big deal about biodiversity?
I first grasped the importance of biodiversity when I learned about the Irish Potato Famine. There are thousands of varieties of potatoes, but the people of Ireland became dependent primarily on one variety for food, making it easy for blight to wipe out much of the country’s food supply.
We’ve learned since then, right?
Maybe not. While we may not get most of our calories from one crop, the vast majority of what we eat comes from only 30 species. And when I saw “what we eat,” I’m not referring to the United States. I’m referring to the world.
Beyond that, climate change is threatening biodiversity, as is the decline in the number of pollinators. (Likewise, a decline in biodiversity affects pollinators.)
So, what can we do about it?
Declining biodiversity is so big and frightening to think about, it’s easy to just decide there’s nothing that can be done. Better to binge on the latest Netflix shows and just hope that nothing dire actually happens — at least, not during our lifetime. Right?
Of course not. Environmental problems like this are worrisome, but we can do something. Lots of things, actually. Here are just a few ideas to get you started:
- Go ahead and be a hipster food snob. Buy or grow the odd, heirloom varieties. As demand for unusual crops increases, the farmers will follow. You can purchase heirloom seeds from companies like Seed Savers, Victory Seed Company, Renee’s Garden, and Seeds of Change.
- Use the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch to guide you toward sustainable seafood choices.
- Participate in the National Wildlife Federation’s Certified Wildlife Habitat program.
- Even if you don’t wish to pursue wildlife habitat certification, you can still landscape for pollinators, including using native plants in your yard.
- Fight climate change through your personal actions and, more importantly, by speaking up in favor of government programs designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
- Support a conservation organization, such as Defenders of Wildlife.
- Tell others about the importance of biodiversity and what they can do to promote it.
Pick an idea from the list above and commit to putting it into practice over the next few months. Then go ahead and watch some Netflix guilt-free!