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Annie Bronez

When Oregon Ash Goes Missing: What the Arrival of EAB Means for the Tualatin River Watershed

Oregonians don’t exalt ash trees the way they do other native trees. That’s no slight to the good people of Oregon. It’s a statement to the awe-inspiring species that demand humble, neck-strained observation and intentional stewardship.

Oregon ash (Fraxinus latifolia) logs won’t turn a profit the way Douglas-fir timber does. It’s unlikely to appear on a hipster’s tattooed forearm like a Western redcedar. And nobody would claim it ages gracefully the way an Oregon white oak does. While its vigor for life would be welcome among houseplants, many people describe this enthusiasm as messy or, dare we say it, even weedy.

Oregon ash is an underappreciated species compared to other Oregon natives.
Oregon ash is an underappreciated species compared to other Oregon natives.

Upon its arrival in Oregon, the invasive emerald ash borer (EAB) cast a shadow on all species of ash trees, particularly Oregon ash. While geneticists maintain hope that EAB-resistant ash varieties can be developed in the future, it’s certain that most ash trees growing today will eventually become infested and die. News of any species’ demise is sure to invoke feelings of sadness and loss. But for an under-loved tree like Oregon ash, those feelings may be fleeting or replaced by gratitude that a money-making or prettier tree was spared a similar fate.

The impending loss of ash is forcing restoration ecologists to explore new ways of doing their work.

Oregon ash, although lacking glamour, is an important tree species that’s been heavily relied upon to revitalize parts of the Tualatin River watershed. Tualatin SWCD and our partners use a variety of tactics to improve the health of the Tualatin River, its tributariesTributary A river or stream flowing into a larger body of water., and the land in between. Shading waterways by planting trees and shrubs is a major component of this conservation effort. Knowing which plant to put where is equally important because every species thrives under certain conditions – this is called a species’nicheNiche The specific area where an organism lives..

Oregon ash occupies a niche that not many other tree species can.

It has the unique ability to grow in soils that experience both prolonged wetness and severe dryness. It flourishes in sunny open areas as well as more mixed and shady woodlands. This flexibility allows Oregon ash to occupy a range of river basin conditions. This is incredibly useful to conservation planners who have spent decades working to increase shade along the Tualatin River.

These same conservation planners are now reckoning with two compounding issues presented by EAB. The first is that an enormous amount of shade will disappear as Oregon ash trees die off. The second is the question of what species to plant in its place.

EAB is new to Oregon, but land managers in the Eastern United States have been grappling with its presence for twenty years.

Following invasive species infestations in other places informs our understanding of how similar infestations will impact ecosystems here. Biodiversity creates more resilient ecosystems. When a tree species is lost in a forest with high diversity, there is often another native tree that can fill the gap, therefore reducing the loss of ecological functionEcological Function The living and nonliving processes within an ecosystem..

In the Willamette Valley, where forested wetlands are almost entirely composed of Oregon ash, an EAB infestation will drastically transform the ecosystem. Because of Oregon ash’s specialized niche, it is unlikely that other native trees would adequately replace it. Instead, it is more likely that invasive plants would become established. This presents another layer of complexity.

Oregon ash is the dominate tree species in forested wetlands.
In the Willamette Valley, forested wetlands are dominated by Oregon ash trees. Photo by Rob Emanuel with Clean Water Services.

In anticipation of EAB’s arrival, conservation practitioners in the Tualatin River watershed have scaled back the use of Oregon ash.

Now that the insect has been discovered in our close quarters, the conservation community is reimagining what environmental protection should look like. EAB is one indication of the far-reaching changes to come as our planet progresses further into an age shaped by global trade and a rapidly changing climate. The strategies that have been traditionally employed may no longer achieve long term objectives.

What species should we prioritize in this work? What is our relationship with non-native but benign plants? Should we continue to use local seeds or would seeds from a hotter, drier climate have better long-term outcomes? How can we cost-effectively support biodiversityBiodiversity The variety of species present.? These are some of the questions being asked as conservationists brace for an unknowable future.

Oregon ash may not be the prettiest tree in the forest but its contributions to water quality, soil health, and wildlife habitat are immense.

All native species, no matter how messy or intrusive, are valuable members of their community and are worthy of our gratitude.

As Dr. Bern Sweeney, Distinguished Research Scientist at the Shroud Water Research Center wrote, “The destruction caused by the emerald ash borer is a wake-up call that we ought to value each and every species in our forest and avoid any and all carelessness that might lead to the demise of any given species. For the loss of each species in a forest is analogous to death by a thousand cuts for the ecosystem.”

The Emerald Ash Borer Has Arrived in Oregon

For twenty years, a pretty little insect has been traveling across the nation and it has finally arrived in Oregon, as specialists knew it eventually would. Its arrival is no means for celebration, as this non-native beetle is infamous for wreaking havoc on ash trees and our native Oregon ash tree will be no exception.

An adult emerald ash borer feeds on an ash tree leaf.
Photo by Will Parson with the Chesapeake Bay Program

The emerald ash borer (EAB) is aptly named. This invasive insect is a shiny emerald green and it bores into ash trees where it fulfills its destructive lifecycle, killing its host in the process. In its native habitat of northeastern Asia, EAB is more of a nuisance than an existential threat to ash trees. The trees there have natural defenses and EAB populations are suppressed by predators. Sadly, in North America, host trees lack these defenses and there aren’t strong local predators, so EAB populations have ballooned, and ash trees have paid the price. Tens of millions of ash trees have been killed by EAB since it was first spotted in Michigan in 2002.

How did the emerald ash borer get here?

Like many invasive species, EAB was most likely transported to America unintentionally, likely by hitching a ride on a cargo ship. Once in North America, it probably spread by infesting a tree that was chopped into firewood and driven miles away or by occupying nursery trees that were then distributed across the region.

This is the case for lots of invasive plants and pests. That’s why it’s important individuals take care not to accidently spread an invasive species when enjoying the great outdoors. Read about ways you can reduce the spread of invasive species.

What are conservation agencies doing about EAB?

There have been about twenty attempts to eradicate the emerald ash borer in the United States, but none have been successful. Luckily, researchers and government agencies in states with EAB have learned important lessons about how to slow the spread and damage caused by the insect. This has helped communities recover and adapt to its presence. The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) will lead the response team using the EAB Readiness and Response Plan for Oregon.

Because conservation agencies expected the arrival of EAB, seed collection programs have been underway for several years. The purpose of collecting seeds is to preserve and study the genetic diversity of Oregon ash trees. Eventually, these seeds can be used to start a selective breeding program that develops ash varieties that are more resistant to EAB. Although emerald ash borers will likely kill or damage most ash in its path, the hope is that one day stronger ash trees can be planted to replace the trees that are lost.

What can individuals do about EAB?

To help slow the spread of the emerald ash borer, individuals should learn how to identify an infestation and report it to the Oregon Invasive Species Hotline. Below is an overview of what to look for. For in-depth information on how to identify an infestation, refer to the Oregon Forest Pest Detector Field Guide.

How to recognize an ash tree (Fraxinus species):

  • Ash are deciduousDeciduous Trees or shrubs that lose their leaves seasonally. trees, most are medium to tall.
  • Our native Oregon ash (Fraxinus latifolia) grows in low-lying wet places. Although, ash trees of different types can also be found in backyards, along sidewalks, and in medians.
  • It has compoundCompound A leaf consisting of several distinct leaflets joined to a single stem. leaves which are made up of 5 – 11 leaflets. Leaves form on opposite sides of a branch.
  • Seeds are winged and hang in clusters.
  • Mature bark has a diamond pattern.
Ash leaves are compound which means they have multiple leaflets connected by a single stem.
Photo by Don Loarie
Ash seeds are winged and hang in clusters.
Photo by Don Loarie
The bark on mature ash trees creates a diamond pattern.
Photo by Ryan Hodnett

How to identify an emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis):

  • This insect has a slender, shiny green body that is about half an inch long. It’s about the size of a dime.
  • When its wings are open, they reveal a red metallic abdomen.
  • Its head is slightly indented with bulging eyes.
  • They only fly for a few weeks per year – from late May through early July – when they emerge to mate and lay eggs. Because of its small size and narrow flight window, you are not likely to see an adult beetle. Although you may see them if there are many flying around a heavily infested tree.
  • There are many similar looking bugs, become familiar with its look-alikes here.

Emerald ash borers have emerald green wings and bright red abdomen.
Photo from Oregon Department of Forestry

Clues that point to an EAB infestation:

  • Adult emerald ash borers are most likely to be spotted in June and July. Finding EAB is a good indication there is an infected ash tree nearby. EABs only feed on ash trees.
  • Infested trees will drop leaves starting at the top of the canopy. Eventually the entire crown may appear thin or dead (no leaves).
  • The tree may have branches popping out of the trunk below where the crown begins. This is a common sign that the tree is stressed.
  • EAB larva create S-shaped galleriesGalleries Channels or engravings underneath a tree's bark created by insects. as they feed on the tree. When the infestation is far along, the S-shaped wiggles will be so numerous it can look like a plate of spaghetti.
  • On heavily infested trees, the bark will sometimes crack, revealing the galleries underneath.
  • Eventually, EAB larva grow into adults and exit the tree. When they do this, they form capital D-shaped exit holes in the bark.
  • Heavily infested trees may attract woodpeckers, so keep an eye out for increased woodpecker activity on ash trees.

The capital D-shaped hole formed by the adult emerald ash borer is a sure sign of an infestation.
Photo by William M. Ciesla, Forest Health Management International, Bugwood.org
Removing the bark of an ash tree reveals S-shaped galleries formed by the emerald ash borer larva.
Photo by Art Wagner, USDA – APHIS, Bugwood.org
A single ash tree is beginning to lose its leaves indicating an emerald ash borer infestation.
Daniel Herms, The Ohio State University, Bugwood.org

How to report a suspected infestation:

  • If you think you’ve found an EAB infestation, submit a report to the Oregon Invasive Species Hotline.
  • It’s important you provide as much detail as possible to assist the conservation specialists who will investigate your report. Take lots of photos that are well lit, in focus, and from several angles. Specialists may reach out to you with follow up questions about your report.

What happens once an infestation is reported?

Conservation specialists will follow up on reports to confirm if it’s an EAB infestation. Once confirmed, attempts will be made to contain the infestation. With landowner permission, an infested ash tree may be cut down and chipped to kill the EABs living in the tree. It’s possible that nearby trees will also need to be removed to protect other ash trees in the area.

Agencies responding to the appearance of EAB are in the process of developing a plan for handling the affected wood. It is possible wood chips can be processed and put to other uses such as landscaping, trail surfaces, composting, livestock bedding material, or lumber products.

How can I protect my ash trees?

The emerald ash borer only affects ash trees. Residents should walk around their yards and neighborhoods to take stock of the ash trees present and decide which trees are worth trying to save.

Specialized insecticides can be applied to protect individual trees not already infested. Depending on the tree size and situation, a single treatment costs around $200-$300 and needs to be reapplied every 2-3 years. Pesticides may sometimes work on infested trees, if discovered early. Residents should work with an ISA-certified arborist to pursue this option.

Read more about preventive chemical treatments here.

At this time, residents do not need to remove ash trees from their property. It is better to wait until more information is available about the extent of EAB’s presence in the Portland metropolitan area.

A trained arborist injects a chemical treatment into an ash tree. Photo by David Cappaert, Bugwood.org

More resources:

Washington County residents can reach out to our Forest Conservation Specialist, Brandy Saffell, with questions about managing EAB on their property.

Ecosystem Services: The Benefits Nature Provides Us

Over time, humans have altered the ecosystems we live in to establish communities and livelihoods. These changes, however, have come at the cost of diminishing the services those ecosystems provide. The world as we know it today would not exist without ecosystem servicesEcosystem Services The benefits that the environment provides for human communities, such as food, filtering air and water, and decomposing waste.. The world we live in tomorrow is determined by our ability to restore the ecosystem services that have been lost.

What are ecosystem services?

Ecosystem services are any benefit ecosystems provide to people. These benefits can take many different forms. They can be tangible or intangible. They can be delivered to us directly or appear indirectly through a chain of events. Some are easy to spot while others are noticed only after they disappear.

Ecosystem services are categorized into four groups:

Provisioning services are products that are extracted from nature. In early civilization, these were primarily food that was gathered, animals that were hunted, and plants that were used to make tools and structures. Today, provisioning services include crops, timber, drinking water, fish, precious metals, stone, fibers, and non-renewable energy sources like natural gas and coal.

Regulating services are processes that maintain environmental conditions that support life. Plants clean the air, microorganisms decompose dead matter, insects pollinate plants, healthy soil stores carbon and cleans water. These processes happen simultaneously, working together to regulate the ecosystem so it continues to function well.

Cultural services are the non-material benefits people receive from nature. Cultural services are wide-ranging influences on the human mind, social systems, and spirituality. They include recreation, cultural identity, aesthetic experience, art and engineering inspiration, and religious or spiritual enhancement. Cultural services are strongly determined by place and represent a diverse realm of influence.

Supporting services are the fundamental processes that allow Earth to sustain both basic life forms and complex ecosystems. They include nutrient cyclingNutrient Cycling The transformation of a chemical as it moves through a system., water cycling, the creation of soil, the creation of the atmosphere, and photosynthesis. No other ecosystem service could exist without supporting services.

Conservation actions restore ecosystem services.

You may not realize it, but many of the actions you take to support a healthy environment are actions that encompass ecosystem services. Learning how to identify and restore ecosystem services in our communities can help us regenerate the natural world we are wholly dependent on.

For instance, woodland owners can enhance their forests by thinning trees and planting a diversity of native shrubs. These practices improve the overall health of the woodland by strengthening its ability to provide services such as pest control, wildfire resiliency, and carbon sequestration.

The graphic above provides more examples of how simple actions produce multiple benefits to people.

Serving ecosystems serves ourselves.

Viewing our yards, farms, and parks as ecosystems is the first step to unlocking the services they can provide for us. Treating our communities as ecosystems by adopting conservation practices improves the health and safety for both people and wildlife.

Western Redcedar Trees Need Your Help.

Western redcedar trees are some of the oldest living organisms in the Pacific Northwest. They can live to nearly a thousand years old, and their fallen trunks will remain for hundreds of years more. This iconic species provides substantial ecological benefits and has made cultural contributions since time immemorial. Lessons of generosity can be learned from the western redcedar, but for all it has given to us, what are we giving back?

Concerns rise around Western redcedar dieback.

There is growing concern around the health of western redcedar trees. Areas with dead and declining redcedar have been increasingly mapped during annual aerial surveys by federal and state agencies This dieback trend has been referenced in news articles and Forest Health Highlights from both Oregon and Washington. These sources indicate broad concern for the species from both forest health professionals and the public.

Western redcedars are dying in large numbers for unknown reasons. Photo by Joey Hulbert.

More information is urgently needed

Experts agree the dieback is linked to longer and hotter droughts in the region, but more information is urgently needed to understand what the future will bring. Is western redcedar the ‘canary’ of climate change? With so much recent dieback, many land stewards are questioning whether—or where—to plant western redcedar, and researchers don’t have all the answers yet.

More information is needed to understand what conditions make these trees vulnerable and what is needed for western redcedar to thrive in the future. More data will improve knowledge of the climate factors that contribute to the variation in tree health across our landscapes. Once researchers better understand the conditions that make these trees vulnerable,  they can compare populations and explore ways to help redcedar trees thrive in a changing environment.

You can help us learn about redcedar dieback.

The Western redcedar dieback map on iNaturalist allows residents to share their observations.
iNatualist is one way you can share your observations to assist researchers. Photo by Joey Hulbert.

With your help, we can accelerate research to find ways to keep western redcedar in our region for future generations. The Forest Health Watch program invites everyone to join the effort to understand western redcedar dieback by becoming community scientists. Sign up as a community scientist or share your western redcedar observations on iNaturalist.org. Instructions and information for getting involved is available at https://foresthealth.org/map.  

Although the Forest Health Watch program has focused on western redcedar, the program has many projects on iNaturalist for people to share observations of issues like bigleaf maple dieback or top dieback on Douglas-fir. The program also launched a project to document plants affected by drought and heat. Help us conserve our regions natural resources by getting involved with these projects at https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/forest-health-watch-projects.

For more information, please contact Joey Hulbert from Washington State University at hulbe@wsu.edu. He is eager to give back to communities through partnerships or educational presentations to your organization.

Celebrating Oregon White Oak

If you’ve been keeping up with us, you may have noticed that we talk about Oregon white oak a lot! As part of a regional effort among conservation groups, we’re working to protect and restore Oregon white oak ecosystems. Since most of the oak habitat that’s left in Washington County is on private lands, participation by residents like you is critical to this conservation initiative. We’re celebrating this special Pacific Northwest species and want you to join in on the fun!

Oregon white oak trees stand tall in an agricultural field.

Find an oak and show off its beauty!

Do you have an oak tree on your property or in your neighborhood? We want to see it!

Although historic oak landscapes are rare today, mature Oregon white oaks are scattered around our communities. Go find one, snap a photo, and share it with us on Instagram by tagging us @TualatinSWCD and using the hashtag #OregonWhiteOak.

Not sure where to look? Visit these local natural areas:

  • West Linn White Oak Savanna
  • Henry Hagg Lake at Scoggins Valley Park
  • Cooper Mountain Nature Park
  • Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge

How to identify an Oregon white oak:

An Oregon white oak leaf has 1 to 9 lobes.

Look at the leaves…

  • In summer, they are dark green on top and pale green underneath.
  • In the fall, they turn brown, gold, and sometimes red.
  • They have 7 – 9 lobes with rounded edges.
  • They grow 3 – 6 inches long.

Look at its shape…

Oregon white oak acorns are about 1 inch long.
  • When alone, its branches grow out wide.
  • If near other trees, it grows tall and narrow.
  • It can be 30 – 100 feet tall with a trunk 2 – 4 feet around.
  • Its grayish brown bark is scaly, and often covered in moss and lichen.

Other clues…

Oregon white oaks produce galls in response to wasp egg laying.
  • Acorns appear in the summer. They have a shallow cap and grow to be about 1 inch long.
  • Tiny wasps lay their eggs on oak stems and leaves. In response, the tree creates a gall. These speckled round balls have a Styrofoam-like inside and make a popping noise when stepped on.

Learn more about Oregon white oaks and why they matter:

What is Biodiversity and Why Does It Matter For You?

BiodiversityBiodiversity The variety of species present. is a hot topic these days. All around us, there’s talk of Earth’s beautiful animals creeping ever closer to extinction. Leopards, gorillas, rhinos, and sea turtles are charismatic creatures that often take center stage in conversations about loss of wildlife. But these animals are only a tiny sliver of the plants and animals that are approaching extinction. Today, nearly 1 million species are threatened to become extinct within a human lifetime[1]. No matter their size or dazzling appearance, all native species contribute to their local community and help keep the planet healthy.

For many people, plants and animals are important for their intrinsic value. But nature is also a critical source of income and supplies needed for human survival. Farming, forestry, growing cities, weeds, and pests are some of the reasons for the rapid loss of plant and animal species. Why should we care that species are going extinct? To answer that question, we must first understand what biodiversity is and how ecosystems work.

Biodiversity is all the different creatures living in one area.

Biodiversity is the mix of different animals, plants, fungi, and microorganisms that make up our natural world[2]. For example, a forest containing many types of trees, dozens of bird species, and both big and small mammals, is described as having high biodiversity. In contrast, a forest having just one type of tree, only two bird species, and a single type of mammal, is described as having low biodiversity. Biodiversity describes how many types of organisms are living in a single location. It’s not how many individual organisms are currently living there. As creatures go extinct, biodiversity goes down which causes problems in the surrounding ecosystem.

This graphic compares an ecosystem with high biodiversity and an ecosystem with low biodiversity. The circle on the left features a fox, deer, raptor, snake, pollinators, and many types of trees, flowers, and shrubs. This is high biodiversity. The circle on the right features a deer, squirrel, butterfly, and two types of trees. This ecosystem has low biodiversity.
The left side features 9 types of animals and 7 types of plants. The right side has only 3 types of animals and 3 types of plants. Graphic by Tualatin SWCD.

An ecosystem is a network of organisms working together in the same environment.

An ecosystem is a community of plants and animals interacting with each other and their physical surroundings. Plants absorbing sunshine, dead things decomposing, and animals eating plants and other animals are some of the activities that happen in an ecosystem. Ecosystems can be big – Oregon’s Willamette National Forest – or small – a single tide pool on the Pacific coast. No matter their size, ecosystems need many types of creatures because every plant and animal has a job to do.

How does biodiversity relate to ecosystems?

Ecologists group organisms together according to the general role they play in an ecosystem. These groups are producers, consumers, and decomposers. These groups can be subdivided further to describe complex webs of activity. For an ecosystem to function properly, it must have many types of creatures from each group – high biodiversity – so all the ecosystem activities happen.

Examples of organisms and the job they do for their ecosystem:

  • Opossum: This mammal is a consumer who eats ticks. Ticks can spread disease throughout an ecosystem. Without opossums, the number of ticks can grow, making other animals sick with diseases like Lyme disease. 
  • Clover: This plant is a producer that takes nitrogen from the air and puts it in the soil. Without clover, other plants wouldn’t be able to absorb the nitrogen they need to grow.
  • Earthworm: This invertebrate is a decomposer. By eating dead things, the earthworm moves nutrients from an organism into the soil. Without decomposers, like earthworms, plants wouldn’t be able to access the materials they need to grow.
  • Snowberry: This Oregon plant is a producer that provides food for birds and insects in the winter. Not many plants have berries in the winter, so snowberry is an important food source for animals living in Oregon all year long.
  • Mussels: This consumer is a filter feeder that keeps streams and rivers clean. Without mussels, toxic chemicals, algae, and bacteria can build up in the water, making it hard for aquatic animals to survive and the water unsafe to drink.

In an ecosystem with high biodiversity, there are many different creatures doing similar jobs. For example, mussels have other filter feeder neighbors to help clean the water. When biodiversity is low, there are fewer organisms working together to complete a job. If a job stops being done or isn’t done enough, side effects ripple through the ecosystem causing problems along the way.

A healthy ecosystem has many types of plants and animals. Each species has a role to play. Illustration by Nora Sherwood.

Ecosystems are like a sports team.

To help us understand ecosystems, we can compare them to a sports team. Sports teams are often divided into groups. Several players make up each group and work together to do a job that helps the team compete. Think about a soccer team. Instead of producers, consumers, and decomposers, a soccer team is divided into forwards, defenders, midfielders, and goalkeepers.

  • Forwards try to score goals into the other team’s net.
  • Defenders try to prevent the other team from scoring goals.
  • Midfielders support the forwards and the defenders by helping with both scoring and defending.
  • Goalkeepers are the last line of defense in preventing the other team from scoring.

If one member of a group leaves the game, another player is around to keep their group working. What happens when more than one player leaves the game? Then there are fewer teammates available to do their group’s job. The remaining players need to work harder to overcome their disadvantage. As the game goes on, these players will become tired and struggle to fulfill their role. Once that happens, the opposing team can win more easily. Just like how a sports team is stronger with many players, an ecosystem is stronger with many species.

Why does biodiversity and ecosystem health matter to us humans?

Biodiversity keeps ecosystems healthy, and ecosystems keep humans healthy. The health and safety benefits people get from nature are called ecosystem servicesEcosystem Services The benefits that the environment provides for human communities, such as food, filtering air and water, and decomposing waste.. An example of an ecosystem service is how trees make oxygen. By doing so, trees clean the air we breathe. In areas with few trees and lots of pollution, the air gets hazy and can be dangerous to inhale. Another example is the way wetlands, marshes, and swamps act like giant sponges. They absorb and slow down large amounts of rainwater which prevents flooding and removes pollution from the water.

Most of these benefits aren’t obvious until they go away. When many ecosystem services are lost, the negative effects become more visible and extreme.

Biodiversity protects human health.

Just like birds and mammals, parasites, viruses, and bacteria are natural members of an ecosystem. In a healthy system, these potentially harmful organisms don’t cause many problems because they are kept in check by their environment. When an ecosystem becomes unbalanced, disease-causing organisms can grow out of control and spread to humans.

A good example of this is when mosquitos create malaria outbreaks. In 2019, malaria caused roughly 409,000 human deaths[3]. This tragic loss of life is linked to the way humans have altered forest ecosystems.

Cutting down forests and harvesting trees for timber causes more sunlight to reach the ground. The sunlight then warms streams and ponds. Because there are fewer trees to soak up water, the ground becomes wet and swampy. Warm, wet conditions are ideal for mosquito reproduction. Soon, there are millions of mosquitos carrying the malaria pathogen that can be spread to humans when a person is bit. This is just one example; scientists estimate that 60% of human-harming diseases come from wild animals and livestock[4].

Deforestation can increase mosquito populations that can spread disease to humans. Photo by Oregon State University.

Biodiversity helps farmers grow food.

Agricultural fields aren’t natural, but they do function like ecosystems and are healthiest with high biodiversity. Almonds, apples, avocados, blueberries, carrots, and onions are a few of the crops that rely on pollination by wild insects. Non-pollinating insects are important too. Predatory insects like ladybugs eat pests that want to eat crops. These beneficial insects need food, water, and shelter which can be hard to find in miles of fields. A farm with high biodiversity provides habitat by growing many types of crops and planting native plants. A high variety of crops, grasses, and shrubs occupying a farm increases the number of helpful insects that live there. More helpful insects result in more food being grown and less use of chemicals that can cause pollution.

Farms can increase biodiversity by planting native shrubs along roads. Photo by Alayne Blickle.

Biodiversity helps communities adapt to climate change.

Ecosystems with high biodiversity can recover from disturbances better than ecosystems with low biodiversity. This means healthy ecosystems are more likely to continue to support humans even as the earth goes through extreme changes. Changes to the earth’s climate are happening so fast, it’s hard for our communities to make big – often unpopular – adjustments needed for our species to survive. Healthy, biodiverse ecosystems buy us time to adapt to climate change by providing buffers against natural disasters like wildfire, flood, and drought.

More resources:

[1]Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (2019), Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services.

[2] Lorin Hancock, World Wildlife Fund. https://www.worldwildlife.org/pages/what-is-biodiversity

[3] World Malaria Report (2020), Global Malaria Programme – World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/teams/global-malaria-programme/reports/world-malaria-report-2020

[4] How Forest Loss is Leading to a Rise in Human Disease (2016), Jim Robins. https://e360.yale.edu/features/how_forest_loss_is_leading_to_a_rise_in_human_disease_malaria_zika_climate_change

[5] Oregon White Oak and Wildlife, Tools for Family Forestland (2018), Ahr, N., Ahr M., Bevis, K., Cafferata Coe, F. https://knowyourforest.org/sites/default/files/documents/Oregon%20White%20Oak%20and%20Wildlife.pdf