Should you prioritize making observations in endangered ecosystems, before they totally disappear? (North American context)

[AdamWargon]

(Hat tip to @oksanaetal for inspiring this thread)

[AdamWargon]

@oksanaetal here’s what I was talking about in the other thread: https://www.cbc.ca/natureofthings/features/canadas-beautiful-prairie-grasslands-are-among-the-most-endangered-ecosyste

[pisum]

to the extent that it’s possible, i think it would be best to formally preserve a space before encouraging folks to explore a small portion of it. encouraging random folks to go to a space that is not protected seems to be asking for uncontrolled habitat destruction and collection. (in my area, there are plenty of parks that cover most special ecosystems that i can think of, and there’s plenty to explore in those limited spaces.)

if you need to do the science and capture sufficient media to promote the place before you can get the collective capital to preserve it, i think i would just do it carefully / intentionally and only share specifics with those who really need to know. (i would share detailed observations in iNaturalist or similar platforms only after it was protected, and only selectively.)

i think the exception to that is when bulldozers are already on site, or when the place is going to be purchased to be developed, and it’s really your last opportunity to make observations in the space.

[jasonhernandez74]

I can say something about longleaf pine (although I would use the term savanna rather than forest). I have been to a preserved longleaf pine savanna, and I found it mind-boggling how much more floristically diverse it was than non-preserved areas nearby. That site was instrumental in my conclusion that the commonly used term “biodiversity hotspot” really just means “place that humans haven’t degraded yet.” Before extensive development, everywhere was a biodiversity hotspot.

[AdamWargon]

@jasonhernandez74 I appreciate you sharing your experience!

At the same time, I think @sedgequeen said (I couldn’t find the quote), “If you want to make an area more biodiverse, put a road through it!”

[sedgequeen]

Yes. Not all biodiversity is good!

[oksanaetal]

I think, if more people make observations in endangered ecosystems, more people would come to love said ecosystems. There is already a lot of effort put into prairie restoration, and I think that iNat - this thread, even - is the perfect place to spread the word about it. Of course, not all of us can travel to make those observations, so those of you who can, please do!