Wildlife & habitat

Humans share the Earth with a diverse range of animals and plants — and we all depend on each other for survival. Think of the salmon that carry nutrients from the ocean to the rivers and streams where they spawn. Eagles and bears that feed on the salmon carry these nutrients into the forest. The forests provide humans with numerous services and resources, from lumber for our homes to the oxygen we breathe. They are also important in our efforts to reduce global warming. Plants and soils store carbon, keeping it from the atmosphere, where it would contribute to climate change. These natural systems provide us with a wide range of services that are often not taken into account when we consider the value of land and resources.

By learning more about what we have and why we need to preserve and protect it, we can all work to make sure our country and our planet maintain and restore the natural balance that all life needs to survive.