How does this affect me?
Physical and Emotional Well-Being
The famous E.O Wilson believed that all people have a built-in
genetic imprint that causes our inner need to "commune"
with nature. Our genetic code is roughly 200,000 years old and
humans have evolved with natural systems. Being in and around
natural settings lowers blood pressure, speeds recovery from health
problems and relieves stress. Biophilia, or love of living things,
helps to explain our natural proclivity to seek out natural settings,
including the company of animals and plants.28
Protecting
Species Habitat Ensures Ecological Services
By conserving and protecting habitat in patterns and types that
support species survival, we also ensure those habitats function
to serve human needs as well: detoxifying air; providing oxygen;
filtering water, food and medicine; production of fruit and vegetable
crops through pollination; preventing flooding and erosion; detoxifying
chemical pollutants through soil microorganisms; and the production
of fiber and raw materials used for manufacturing.
Avoiding Costly Environmental Clean-up and Habitat Restoration
When wildlife habitat is degraded and fragmented through loss
of connected parcels of naturally functioning lands, overall watershed
functions are severely impaired (see the Urbanization
and Forest Change Indicator). Erosion and flooding increase,
water quality and fish habitat degrade (causing economic loss
to fisheries, tourism, shellfish), costly compliance with Endangered
Species Act laws may be invoked and expensive water quality cleanup
plans increase in number.
Imbalance in Species Causes Other Problems
When the number and/or health of a species changes, other facets
of the overall food web change. For instance, when the sea otter
population was originally decimated, one of its prey – the
sea urchin – increased expotentially, creating walls of these
spiny creatures. This in turn competed with northern abalone propagation.
The decline of species can also facilitate the spread of exotic
species, which then out-compete local species, with enormous economic
implications for communities (e.g; spartina, European green crab,
Zebra mussels).
Watchable Wildlife Revenues
This
region is one of the most popular in North America for wildlife
viewing. In Washington State alone, over $980 million is spent
annually to view wildlife. Money is spent on lodging and food,
and on supplies such as boat rentals, cameras, binoculars, spotting
scopes, books/maps, tents, packs, and membership dues.
In Hood Canal, divers spent up to $3,000 in gear, $150 for lessons
and $150 for other related expenses. SCUBA divers are among the
highest "viewing" spenders.
The revenue stream is simply astounding: On average, since 2001,
over $1.7 billion was spent on wildlife viewing activities, creating
21,000 jobs in the state, $426.9 million in job income and $56.9
million in state tax revenues each year.29
Legacy and Investment in our Children
In the face of a growing population, we have no choice but to
manage growth in the most sensible way that preserves species,
habitat and a quality of life worth living for into the future.
What will we tell our children when we allow species to go extinct
when we had economically viable options to protect them?
Marine Species at Risk