Do you hear cars on the road, see power lines and houses in the distance? What kinds of plants or animals can you see? Can you hear leaves rustling in the wind? You are currently standing on the “precipice of wilderness”, as you are leaving the urban world, and stepping into a natural one. This space is very unique because it is shared by humans, animals, plants, and more. The name for this kind of area is called a biodiversity hotspot, a place with high human development and one of the highest varieties of native and endemic (found nowhere else in the world) species. California is one the the main seven biodiversity hotspots, ranked next to Madagascar, Brazil, South Africa, and more!

While it’s great that California is recognized for its biodiversity and large number of native species, it’s also recognized as a hotspot because of the threat to those species. Over 75% of its original natural habitat has been lost due to human development, unsustainable resource use, and invasive species. If we continue to overuse and undervalue the resources provided to us by nature, entire ecosystems that we rely on for food and air will collapse.