Park and recreation agencies have an important role to play in safeguarding biodiversity. Learn more about how they contribute to the preservation of diverse ecosystems.
The term biodiversity comes from “biological diversity” and refers to the variety of life in a certain place. While often measured by the number of species, it can be applied at various scales from genes to species to ecosystems. Biodiversity provides numerous benefits, including ecosystem services like air and water purification, natural beauty, food security, resilience to climate change, and mental and physical health and well-being.
Park and recreation agencies play a pivotal role in celebrating and protecting biodiversity. As custodians of some of the most diverse and ecologically significant regions, park agencies and their actions have far-reaching impacts on both the local ecosystems and global conservation efforts. In this article, park planner Clement Lau discusses four ways that park agencies celebrate and protect biodiversity, with specific examples of how the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) carries them out:
- Establish and maintain protected areas.
- Develop and implement plans and policies.
- Offer public education and increase awareness.
- Collaborate with conservation organizations and other partners.
To learn more, please read the source article.
FULL STORY: Celebrating and Protecting Biodiversity
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UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research