Page 13 - Ocean Artist Society Winter2015r1

One of the biggest determining factors in biodiversity loss can be traced directly to human cities, farming and infrastructure expansion. According to U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, these factors may account for a loss of roughly three animal or plant species every hour. Moon believes the failure to protect biodiversity should be a wakeup call to protect our remaining forests, watersheds, coral reefs and other healthy ecosystems.
The losses of biodiversity will continue, but there are opportunities to slow this loss with specific changes that many of us can support to strengthen the chains of life.
Preserving Wetlands
Wetlands remain one of nature’s most powerful tools for breaking down toxins and recharging groundwater. More over, wetlands are a natural incubator for species to proliferate.
Native Species Planting
Plants of local origin not only survive better, the resources they need are more in sync with the local environment. Native plantings in the southwestern United States, for example, use a seventh of the water required for non- native lawn like a Kentucky blue grass -- a high input, beautiful grass species that requires higher amounts of water, fertilizer and herbicides.
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