Preserving Biodiversity

Abstract

Lyn Sedlak-Forďs The Great Return reflects both the beauty of salmon and their plight in finding it increasingly difficult to return to their spawning grounds each year (represented by their swimming in opposing directions). Several species of salmon throughout the Pacific Northwest are threatened or endangered. Timothy Beat-ley's article proposes a new approach to helping these and other endangered species survive. The artist, who holds degrees in psychology and art therapy, has been creating works in clay since 1989 after working 9 years as an art therapist. She resides on Lacamas Lake in Camas, Washington, and her works can be seen in galleries throughout Washington and Oregon and in private collections across North and South America. Thanks to the Riversea Gallery in Astoria, Oregon, for their help in putting us in touch with this artist. Preserving biodiversity represents a major challenge for American planners, as threats to biodiversity are increasingly the result of urbanization and land use change. Present and past conservation strategies, including the federal Endangered Species Act, have not been successful; new, bolder strategies are needed. Long-range land use planning, aimed at creating large-scale integrated ecological systems of connected greenspace and habitat, is the key. Nested approaches in which regional systems of protected green-space connect with and link to larger statewide and continental systems are necessary. Habitat conservation goals must be more ambitious and wasteful development patterns must be checked if biodiversity is to be preserved. Other elements of the conservation strategy must include new approaches to funding acquisition, creative incentives for conservation on private lands, envisioning new roles for cities in restoring and conserving biodiversity, and giving greater attention to biodiversity conservation in planning curricula.