Tending the Delicate Balance
An intimate relationship exists between the plant and animal world – one cannot survive without the other. A tree will not bear fruit without help from pollinators, a butterfly will not take flight without nutrients from its larval host plant, and a nesting songbird will not have food for her young without an abundance of nearby larvae. The circle of life is only possible when our ecosystem is healthy.
Pressures from forces such as extreme weather and loss of habitat are currently accelerating the natural process of evolution, interrupting this delicate balance and threatening species at a rate never known to humankind.
An intimate relationship exists between the plant and animal world – one cannot survive without the other. A tree will not bear fruit without help from pollinators, a butterfly will not take flight without nutrients from its larval host plant, and a nesting songbird will not have food for her young without an abundance of nearby larvae. The circle of life is only possible when our ecosystem is healthy.Pressures from forces such as extreme weather and loss of habitat are currently accelerating the natural process of evolution, interrupting this delicate balance and threatening species at a rate never known to humankind.
Wild Ones 2012 Design With Nature Conference will address these pressures and explore opportunities the scientific community is considering to save certain species. Native plants and how we manage our landscapes play a key role, adding both diversity and natural beauty to the world around us.
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Speakers include:
Jessica J. Hellmann, Associate Professor, Dept. of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame
Stan Tekiela, Naturalist, Wildlife Photographer and Writer
Elaine Evans, Professional of Entomology, University of Minnesota; Author of Befriending Bumblebees
Larry Weaner, Natural Landscape Designer and Consultant, Larry Weaner Landscape Associates
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