photo: Dick Todd

Why Biodiversity Matters

Biodiversity is important to the health of our environment, to science and medicine, and to people who care about and enjoy nature.

Nature needs biodiversity

Diversity is important to the health of natural systems because the plants, animals and other life forms in any given ecosystem have adapted to living together over thousands of years. Each species plays a role in its ecosystem, and the loss of a seemingly unimportant creature could affect the entire system in ways that people cannot predict.

Biodiversity is also important because it works like nature's insurance policy. Ecosystems that contain a variety of life forms tend to recover from stresses like natural disasters, human disturbance, or invasive species more easily than less diverse ecosystems.

People need biodiversity

photo: Dick Todd

People benefit from protecting biodiversity because healthy, diverse ecosystems provide essential services. They hold plants that produce the oxygen we breathe, insects that pollinate our food crops, and species that could hold clues for medicine. In fact, almost half of our prescription drugs are based on natural products.

People also value healthy natural places for their beauty and their ability to inspire us. Nature can offer respite from the stress of urban life. The variety of living things are a source of wonder and inspiration, and it is our responsibility to protect this amazing diversity of life for the benefit of future generations.

The Chicago region needs biodiversity

Biodiversity has special importance in the Chicago region. The region contains an unusual variety of types of natural communities, including some of the best remaining examples of tallgrass prairies and open woodlands. These areas harbor many rare or endangered species of native flora and fauna.

Healthy natural areas in the Chicago region also benefit the people who live here by improving water quality and reducing the risk of flood damage. Wetlands and other natural areas along the edges of streams, rivers and lakes help protect and improve water quality by trapping sediments, and by absorbing or breaking down pollutants. They also serve as land where floodwaters can collect, helping prevent the destructive and expensive flooding of homes and businesses.

Protecting nature in our region has economic benefits. To remain competitive in attracting and retaining businesses and residents, the Chicago region must offer a comparable quality of life to that offered in other metropolitan areas—and if possible, a better one. An important aspect of quality of life in and around our city is access to nature. The presence of safe parks, paths for hiking and biking, and forest preserves are certainly important to our quality of life.

 E-mail to a friend