WHAT TO DO
Although humans have affected the Earth's biodiversity, we still have the ability to restore and preserve the health of the planet. Small acts like turning off a faucet when brushing your teeth or taking your own bags to the grocery store can literally help save the world.

Five major factors, known by the acronym HIPPO, contribute to the current loss of biodiversity.

According to legendary Harvard professor Edward O. Wilson, every country has three forms of wealth: material, cultural, and biological. The first two we are familiar with and can relate to since they are part of our everyday lives. The biological wealth is one that is not so obvious on a daily basis - especially for those of us living in cities and suburbs - but it may be the most rewarding and important of any country's wealth.

Professor Wilson — who has authored 20 books, won two Pulitzer prizes and discovered hundreds of new species during his forty years as a scientist - has been one of the earliest and most vocal advocates for the preservation of biodiversity.

E.O. Wilson with a final word on biodiversity. (To receive the content of this clip in an alternate format, please mail julie.mitchell@kingcounty.gov)

"We should judge every scrap of biodiversity as priceless," said Wilson, "while we learn to use it and come to understand what it means to humanity."

We can each do our part to lessen our impact on the environment! For easy ideas on how you can help, link onto www.metrokc.gov/environ.htm and find out the many things you can do to preserve biodiversity. Start today!

Visit our Green Works website to see how businesses can adopt easy environmental measures at their workplace to save resources and money. And see which King County businesses are already taking steps to help preserve our environment!

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