E. Build Biodiversity

E. BUILD BIODIVERSITY

Why is Biodiversity Important?

• Biodiversity is the foundation of all life on earth. The greater the diversity of life on the planet, the more secure all life is, including ours. • Biodiversity is the key indicator of the health of an ecosystem, both on a macro level and on a micro level. • Healthy, biodiverse ecosystems clean our water, purify our air, maintain our soil, regulate the climate, recycle nutrients and provide us with food. They provide raw materials and resources for medicines and other purposes. • Floods, fires and disease outbreaks all have connections to biodiversity loss • Biodiversity provides everything humans need – for free.

Wherever they call home, humans depend on the services ecosystems provide, such as fresh water, pollination, soil fertility and stability, food and medicine. Ecosystems weakened by the loss of biodiversity are less likely to deliver those services, especially given the needs of an ever-growing human population.

Protecting biodiversity mitigates risks and increases productivity at Silk Grass Farms. On a macro level, diverse crops, apiculture, and diverse wildlife mitigate the risk of plant diseases, pests, and effects of severe weather and climate change. On a micro level, diversity in the soil microbiome and in benevolent insect populations, and the use of biochar, compost, and effective micro-organisms help mitigate soil erosion, crop loss, petrochemical exposure, and water contamination.

Conservation researchers Paul and Anne Ehrlich posited in the 1980s that species are to ecosystems what rivets are to a plane’s wing. Losing one might not be a disaster, but each loss adds to the likelihood of a serious problem.