BIODIVERSITY GARDENING
  • Home
  • Learn
    • What is Biodiversity?
    • What is Biodiversity Gardening?
    • What is Native Biodiversity?
    • Why Does Native Biodiversity Matter?
    • Resources
  • Documentary
    • Introduction
    • Our Favorite Native Plants (All)
    • American Beech
    • Bloodroot
    • Blue Flag Iris
    • Hoptree
    • Ninebark
    • Animals and Fungi (All)
    • Boogie-Woogie Aphid
    • Black Swallowtail Butterfly
    • Giant Swallowtail Butterfly
    • Lichens
    • Milk Snake
  • About
    • Contact Us
  • Blog

Happy Earth Day and 5th Anniversary Biodiversity Gardening!

4/21/2016

 
Just over five years ago I came up with the term "biodiversity gardening" to describe gardening with native plants.  On Earth Day 2011 I launched this educational website, and biodiversity gardening came into being. Gardening with native plants increases biodiversity, compared to conventional gardening practices utilizing alien plants.  It is really quite a simple concept.  Terrestrial ecosystems are comprised of species of plants, animals, fungi, bacteria, and other organisms that coevolved over evolutionary time.  Many of the food webs are based on obligatory relationships, such as those of plants and leaf-feeding insects.  There are many kinds of insects that feed on fresh green leaves, and they require the native host plants they coevolved with. They can't feed on alien plants.  Essentially, a healthy ecosystem will have a diversity and abundance of native plants, which will support a diversity and abundance of native insects, which will in turn support healthy populations of other animals that feed on insects, such as birds.  It is common knowledge that habitat loss is the number one cause of biodiversity decline today. In order to have habitat, you've got to have native plants.  Native plants are the foundation of healthy ecosystems.  Do your part -- transform your backyard into a biodiversity oasis with native plants. Start your biodiversity garden today.  What a great way to celebrate Earth Day!
Picture
A late summer biodiversity garden in southern Ontario

Comments are closed.

    Author

    Dr. Nina M. Zitani writes about biodiversity and conservation issues 

    Archives

    May 2023
    September 2020
    April 2019
    January 2019
    February 2018
    June 2016
    April 2016
    April 2015
    August 2014
    June 2014
    September 2013

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • Learn
    • What is Biodiversity?
    • What is Biodiversity Gardening?
    • What is Native Biodiversity?
    • Why Does Native Biodiversity Matter?
    • Resources
  • Documentary
    • Introduction
    • Our Favorite Native Plants (All)
    • American Beech
    • Bloodroot
    • Blue Flag Iris
    • Hoptree
    • Ninebark
    • Animals and Fungi (All)
    • Boogie-Woogie Aphid
    • Black Swallowtail Butterfly
    • Giant Swallowtail Butterfly
    • Lichens
    • Milk Snake
  • About
    • Contact Us
  • Blog