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Introduction

“The loss of biological diversity is the loss of a library that contains answers to questions we have not yet learned how to ask.” – Lynn Helena Caporale, “Chemical Ecology: A View from the Pharmaceutical Industry,” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) 92 (1995): pp. 75-82.

Humans are dependent upon the products supplied by the diversity of biological organisms on earth and their associated ecosystems (i.e., biodiversity). Yet, the continued destruction of species is testament that we are not protecting these ecosystems that protect us. If we ignore this issue now, we will be faced with the imminent inability of ecosystems to provide human health benefits, food, and shelter.

For a majority of the American population living in urban and suburban areas, nature seems separate from their daily lives. They may only experience wild forests filled with native birds or rivers abundant with fish a few times a year, and would be devastated if they no longer had access to wild and natural places. Yet, we are failing to preserve biodiversity for future generations. Instead, we are destroying wild, open natural spaces and the biological resources they support at rates that scientists equate with a mass extinction.

Governments, conservation groups, some private companies, and the public have recognized the need to preserve biodiversity, and developed a variety of programs and policies at all levels aimed at halting the loss of biological resources. It is now important to coordinate existing local, regional, state, private, and public efforts to preserve biodiversity. By allowing different biodiversity conservation efforts to stand alone, some states are making significant investments and still failing to preserve biodiversity.

This web site offers the tools necessary to introduce and pass legislation to preserve and enhance biodiversity in your state. We have provided a model bill, talking points, fact pack, links, and other background information. By developing a coordinated statewide biodiversity strategy, we can stem the loss of biodiversity and conserve our natural heritage effectively and efficiently, potentially producing much better results.

We may have other useful materials on this subject which are not posted on our web site. Please feel free to contact us at [email protected] or call our office in Madison, Wisconsin, at (608) 252-9800.

If you’ve used this site and found it helpful, or if you have suggestions about how it could be made more helpful, please let us know.

This package was last updated on June 2, 2004.