The Future of Biodiversity:  Wilderness & Beyond

by Gordon Orians, Profesor Emeritus at University of Washington

February 2007

The extent and nature of the world’s ecosystems changed more rapidly during the last century than at any other time in human history. Across a range of taxonomic groups, either population size, or range, or both, or the majority of species is currently declining. Over the past few hundred years, humans have increased the rate of species extinction by as much as 1,000 times over the background rates typical over most of Earth’s history.

Parks, reserves, and wilderness areas are critical components of our efforts to preserve Earth’s rich biological diversity. For a variety of reasons, we will always need reserves and wilderness areas, but, by themselves, they will not suffice to stem the loss of biodiversity.  Moreover, the vast majority of threatened and endangered species in the United States rely heavily on habitat located on non-federal land.