I think this biodiversity assessment handbook is a very good solution for getting people to care and make a positive difference. In class we always talk about how one of the biggest problems is that people are uneducated about nature do not learn enough about the importance of biodiversity in school. We also talked about how many of the activists come off as aggressive and make people feel blamed for the problems. This handbook was made so that it can be the perfect read for anyone. It was made for everyone from uneducated citizens and interested students to experienced researchers and advocates. There were a lot of terms that I did not understand before reading this, and handbook was very clear in explaining things. It is very easy for someone who knows very little to learn a lot about the city’s biodiversity.
In addition to it being very clear and insightful, I also liked the tone. The previous readings had a more harsh and negative tone, because they talk about how much of the city’s ecosystems were degraded and lost (which does get addressed in this text as well). However, this handbook also focuses a lot on the positives by saying that there is actually a surprising array of rare species in New York City. Instead of only focusing on what is missing, it also focuses on all the nature that we have. It also talks about all the positive plans and legislation that have been put in place to make some progress, although there still needs to be more. In addition, they even go as far as to say that, although many ecosystems were destroyed, the tall buildings and bridges have actually become their own ecosystems and homes to new species (16). I thought that was a very interesting fact and a positive way to look at things.
One of the best parts was when it talks about all the ways in which biodiversity can improve the quality of life. It is very persuasive in convincing us to take care of the environment because of all of the benefits we can get from it. This includes food and medicine, such as aspirin, which comes from the willow tree. It also talks about how the shade from plant provide cooling and that plants reduce carbon dioxide and provide oxygen for us to breathe. Another example is how oysters filter out the sediments in the water so other species can live. Stormwater is absorbed by plants and the soil, removing pollutants and replenishing underground water supplies (4). The list goes on, but one of the most compelling benefits is how our connection to nature can help with human health. Research shows that contact with nature can help us physically and mentally by restoring concentration, calming anxiety, and reducing stress and aggression (5). If more people knew this, I really think it would make a difference. A very interesting statistic in this reading said that each year rich biodiversity provides $33 trillion worth of natural services, which is almost twice the global gross national product (4). This is a great way to get the ignorant or uninvolved readers to care about helping with conservation and restoration efforts.
However, in addition to all the positives, the handbook still makes the reader aware of all the problems that exist and how to fix those problems. It describes the species and ecosystems that have become extinct or endangered because of human interference and also talks about the threats to biodiversity. It talks about the dangers of invasive species, some accidentally brought here from Europe, and overabundant species. One of the issues I never thought about was how much the climate changes endangers some species and attracts new species, completely changing our ecosystems and the timings by which they work over recent years. And, of course, it talks about all the forms of pollution that destroys the ecosystems. It then goes on to talk about how we can restore much of what was lost and conserve the little that we do have left through laws and plans and by explaining how to perform a habitat assessment. I truly believe that if this handbook was assigned as a reading in a variety of different classes in many schools, it can have a very positive affect on how people respond to our current problems.
