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The foundation of a healthy environment that can sustain
itself and thrive over generations is biological diversity.
Biodiversity is defined as the variety of plants, animals
and habitats that make up an ecosystem, and the
interconnectedness of the system. One species depends on
many other species and habitats to live in balance - and to
be sustained - including we humans. For example, we rely on
wetlands that function well and control flooding, and filter
pollutants, and bees and other insects to pollinate fruit
trees and flowers.
A lack of diversity makes the system vulnerable and directly
effects human health. For example, in fragmented forests
(loss of habitat) the white footed mice population will
increase in response to a lack of predators and competitors
most of which require unfragmented forests for habitat
(decrease in species diversity). White footed mice
population can increase by as much as 7 times in the
fragmented forest landscape.
The white footed
mouse is the prime carrier of black ticks which carry Lyme
disease. As the forest system can no longer sustain healthy
populations of predators and competitors of the white footed
mouse, human health continues to be at risk. Lyme Disease is
not as much of a threat in areas where there are large
tracts of woodlands that can support small mammals such as
voles and mice.
The Hudson Highlands is a region rich in natural resources,
and citizens and local governments need to plan to maintain
these resources through land use planning that promotes
biodiversity. The first step is to do assessments to
identify areas that are rich in biodiversity . Then there
are a variety of regulatory and non-regulatory measures to
protect habitat that benefit biodiversity - and therefore an
environment that is sustainable. By preserving biodiversity
we will also protect the scenic landscapes that define the
Highlands and give our communities so much of their
character.
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