Doug Tallamy, ecologist, inspirational speaker and best-selling author of Nature’s Best Hope, will be the keynote speaker at the conference “Nature’s Best Hope” which will take place at Santa Clara University on Sunday, Nov. 17.
Tallamy points out that we are all focused on the climate crisis—as we should be—but that even if we could solve the climate crisis today we would still have a real and accelerating biodiversity crisis. North America has lost three billion breeding birds in the last 50 years, and insect numbers are in drastic decline nearly everywhere. The U.N. predicts that one million species will go extinct in the next 18 years.
“These losses are not an option if we humans wish to continue happily on this planet,” Tallamy says, “for it is plant and animal diversity that creates the stable and productive ecosystems on which we depend. We are at a critical point of losing so many species from local ecosystems that their ability to produce and provide the oxygen, clean water, flood control, pollination, pest control, carbon storage, etc.—the ecosystem services that sustain us—will become seriously compromised.”
He points out in a clear and engaging way why we must—and how each of us can—successfully address the biodiversity crisis at the grassroots level. Tallamy’s message that every property owner must improve the ecological integrity of landscapes under his or her control by adding native plants and restoring habitat around our homes, offices or place of worship, in local parks and wherever else we can weed and plant, has resonated with many in the Bay Area.
Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour founder and conference coordinator Kathy Kramer pointed out, “Compared to 20 years ago native plant gardens, nurseries and designers can now be readily found. Having a native plant garden really is the way to bring nature home: In my own garden in San Pablo I have seen 40 species of birds, and 16 kinds of butterflies, skippers and moths. It is such a pleasure to see such a natural environment from my own kitchen window!
Register for the conference at bringingbackthenatives.net.
“Nature’s Best Hope” conference
Featuring keynote speaker Doug Tallamy
Sunday, Nov. 17
1pm – 5pm
Mayer Theatre, Santa Clara University
500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara
bringingbackthenatives.net
$50
