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"Only those who know the most about it can appreciate how little we know about it. The last word in ignorance is the man who says of an animal or plant: "What good is it?" If the land mechanism as a whole is good, then every part is good, whether we understand it or not." -- Aldo Leopold |
The biological diversity of Lake Huron's coast is being compromised by over-development, fragmentation of forest areas, the spread of alien invasive species, and damage to sensitive coastal environments. Biodiversity is important to ecosystem health, to the recreation and tourism economies, and even to human health. The Coastal Centre, through education, research and community stewardship, are undertaking efforts to help restore the biodiversity of the coast and minimize future losses.
Ecosystems - Lake Huron's coast has some of the richest biodiversity in Ontario. Dune grasslands, coastal meadow marshes, bluff, cobble shore and Alvars are some of the shore ecosystems containing many rare and vulnerable plant communities and species. The Coastal Centre uses an ecosystem approach in its conservation work.
Plants - Getting to know some of the key plants that make up the shoreline helps to understand why they're there and the function they perform. Many are Provincially or Globally rare. Some are Species at Risk. All can be impacted by human activity.
Animals - A number of animals, mainly birds, will be familiar to beach-goers. There may be some that you may not have realized make Lake Huron home.
Threats - The two key threats to Lake Huron's biodiversity are human activities and invasive non-native species. Please help in minimizing these threats to the coast. Learn how...
2010: International Year of Biodiversity2010: International Year of Biodiversity http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=international+year+of+biodiversity |
Related documents
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Biodiversity Links
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