Habitats: What They Are and Why We Need to Rebuild Them
- Lana Dion
- May 31, 2023
- 8 min read
Edited by Julia Parr
The worldview that humans are separate from nature, also known as exemptionalism, is not only problematic, it's harmful.1 I spend a lot of time in social circles that seek out connection with nature and are generally already familiar with the concept of habitats and the need for rebuilding them rather than just relying on what is "out there" somewhere to sustain wildlife, but as this is not yet mainstream I hope to add one more voice in favor of healthy ecosystems—right where we live. I will preface this by noting that I am located in North America; however, the general concepts and issues apply wherever there are humans residing, including cities and suburbs.
What is a habitat?
National Geographic has a simple definition of habitat: "a place where an organism makes [their] home. A habitat meets all the environmental conditions an organism needs to survive. For an animal, that means everything it needs to find and gather food, select a mate, and successfully reproduce."2
Wildlife needs food, water, cover, and places to raise their young in close proximity to those resources in order to flourish. National Wildlife Federation: Attracting Birds, Butterflies, and Other Backyard Wildlife by David Mizejewski details how to do this in your own space and explains how and why we should engage in sustainable garden practices.3
Why should we care?
I feel so passionate about this that it's difficult to articulate—to distill down years of learning and moments of delight which have built this passion, along with concern for what is happening to ecosystems around the world, yet the joy of discovery every time I step outside because there is always a new-to-me insect or old friends returning after winter, a new sprout pushing through in a burst of fresh life, a flower just opening, seeds ripening, or another subtle shift in the rhythms and cycles of nature. There is so much life around me that I don't feel alone—I'm not alone. However, what I'll briefly address are species and habitat loss, quality of life, and what kind of person you want to be.
Photo by Paul Dion, blue damselfly on frogfruit (Phyla nodiflora). Like dragonflies, they need a water source for their aquatic larvae to develop before emerging to adult form. I'm always happy to see my "dragon and maiden" friends in the garden, but especially the first ones of the year, seeing that the larvae successfully survived through winter! =)
Species and habitat loss
According to the "State of the Birds 2022" report by the North American Bird Conservation Initiative (NABCI), "1 in 4 breeding birds have been lost from the United States and Canada in the past 50 years . . . 70 species have collectively lost 2/3 of their populations in the past 50 years, and are on track to lose another 50 percent in the next 50 years," and "birds across the U.S. show downward trends in every habitat except in wetlands," where funding and policy investments led to some recovery for waterfowl.4 It's not only birds; losses are happening across the board. The Living Planet Report 2020 found that between 1970 and 2016 the population sizes for 4,300 monitored species around the world—including mammals, fish, birds, and amphibians—declined by an average of 68 percent.5
"We are at a critical point of losing so many species from local ecosystems that their ability to produce the oxygen, clean water, flood control, pollination, pest control, carbon storage, etc, that is, the ecosystem services that sustain us, will become seriously compromised," says Douglas Tallamy, Professor in the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware and author of Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants.6
Habitat loss, which is the most detrimental force facing wildlife today, is increasing at an alarming rate. According to the National Audubon Society, over the last 100 years "the continental U.S. lost a staggering 150 million acres of habitat and farmland to urban sprawl, and that trend isn’t slowing." Lawns alone cover over 40 million acres.7
Since I live in Texas, I'll give a brief example even closer to home. Some quick Wikipedia stats show that Texas has 171.902 million acres, "with more than 30 million residents in 2023, it is the second-largest U.S. state by both area and population."8 Two hundred years ago there were 26.5 million acres of coastal and tallgrass prairie; today less than 1 percent (about 265,000 acres) remains, and 95 percent of Texas is privately owned, according to Jeff Sargent, the Development Director at the Native Prairies Association of Texas (NPAT) in his presentation titled "Bringing Back Texas Prairies."9 Please check out the resources below to learn more about the implications and importance of prairies and their losses.
The importance of native plants in our gardens cannot be overstated. Sure, some non-native flowers can support some native bees and non-native European honeybees, but that doesn't include all the specialists whose young can only eat pollen from specific native species, or many other species who allow local ecosystems to function in a balanced manner. Mizejewski shares that "research has shown that wildlife habitat gardens support twice the wildlife and a greater diversity of species compared to a conventional landscape of lawn and other non-native plants. They also give us a daily connection to nature that's sorely lacking from most of our lives . . . Ecosystems are healthy when they are diverse, self-sustaining, and balanced, with no one species dominating all the rest. This is true in wild ecosystems as well as in those in our cities, towns, and even our own yards and gardens. If you understand this principle and apply it to your garden and landscape, you'll create a beautiful mini-ecosystem that supports birds, butterflies, and a wide variety of other wildlife species."3
If there is to be any kind of long-term balance in nature, we, as the ultimate consumers in the food web and those who make the most dramatic changes to our environment, must allow spaces for wildlife and give back to the earth in equal measure for what we consume. A major way we can do that is by reimagining our yards, farms, balconies, roofs, and community spaces for the potential habitat they could be.
Quality of life
The positive results of being a contributing member of an ecosystem are no more evident than in the immediate health benefits a person can realize when they start rebuilding the ecosystem around them to encourage habitat.
Building healthy ecosystems helps keep humans healthy! "The Healing Powers of Nature" highlights that "being active in nature can help fight chronic diseases, relieve stress and depression, promote faster healing, stronger immune systems, and more. And new research is beginning to reveal why: Contact with nature affects us, mentally and physically, right down to our cells."10
Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods and who coined the term Nature Deficit Disorder, said in 2020 that there are around 1,000 good studies on this topic, and they "point in one direction: Nature is not only nice to have, but it’s a have-to-have for physical health and cognitive function."11
Making time to be in nature is much easier when it's right outside your door. If you have children in your life, a wildlife habitat garden provides great enrichment opportunities for them! "In too many areas of our country there is no place left for wildlife but in the landscape and gardens we ourselves create," says Tallamy. "It is now within the power of individual gardeners to do something that we all dream of doing: to make a difference. In this case, the 'difference' will be to the future of biodiversity, to the native plants and animals of North America [or wherever you live] and the ecosystems that sustain them."12
What kind of person do you want to be?
This isn't about taking you on a guilt trip. This is a journey with lookout points, shortcuts, Sunday drives, and even a few detours. There are various viewpoints, opinions, and discussions when it comes to the environment, human impact on it, and what—if any—responsibility we have. Personal beliefs can also be factors. Does being the most dominant species on the planet mean we should do whatever we want? Or should we care about other species, even though—or especially because—they may seem inferior?
Do you ever find yourself thinking that your lone actions don't really make a difference in the big picture? Does that mean you shouldn't try? What kind of life do you want to live: one of abundance, or destruction? Is it important to you to leave what aspects of the world you touch a little better—to be a positive force, no matter how great or small? How else might the way we steward what is in our care affect our character and personal growth?
As residents of this planet we should care about the living conditions of every other living being in our environment, not just those of our own species, and try to uplift not only humans but also our environment. We aren't just stewards set in charge to manage resources. We are are active members of the ecosystem who are responsible for its proper functioning.
Rebuilding habitats
As Mizejewski says, "Plants are the foundation of wildlife habitat. Without healthy plant communities to provide habitat, wildlife disappears. By preserving or planting the native plants that naturally grow in the area and that wildlife need to survive, you can restore habitat and invite the wildlife back to the land it once occupied. The act of planting for a purpose is the very definition of gardening. By planting native plants to restore wildlife habitat, you become a wildlife habitat gardener."3
We don't need to have completely native plants only in order to make a major positive impact for wildlife! A 2018 study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences looked at the relationship between plants, insects and other arthropods that eat those plants, and insectivorous birds—in this case, Carolina chickadees—that rely on those plant-eating critters as food during the breeding season. It was completed in a residential neighborhood, similar to where many of us live, and found that chickadee "populations could only be sustained if nonnative plants constituted <30 percent of plant biomass . . . properties landscaped with nonnative plants function as population sinks for insectivorous birds. To promote sustainable food webs, urban planners and private landowners should prioritize native plant species."13
The goal is at least 70 percent native plants, so you can still keep your most beloved (non-invasive) plant friends, and it doesn't have to happen all at once. Going native for new garden areas and replacing non-natives as they die out is a great way to start! If you'd like to learn more and take some steps toward rebuilding habitat in your life, I highly suggest David Mizejewski's book. Look around at what space is available, no matter how small or large, whether on your own property or a community space. Note how much sunlight and moisture there is and what kind of soil. Observe what critters are already present. Learn about some of the plants that are native to your area. Explore the National Wildlife Federation web site14, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center has a ton of resources15, and find a native plant society near you.16 See the other resources below and at the Resources tab above. If you're in Texas, check out the Facebook group Growing Texas Natives!17
I can't quantify the joy and other benefits my own gardens have brought to my life, and I hope this inspires you to join in experiencing greater joy, a more meaningful sense of purpose, and genuine happiness in your own wildlife habitat! =)
Share with neighbors and visitors what you're doing on your property by displaying informative signs, like this pollinator and NWF Certified Wildlife Habitat sign! They are right by the sidewalk in our front yard, so anyone who passes may understand more about our gardens. =) Photo by Paul Dion.
Selected References & Resources
[1] Are humans separate from nature?
[3] National Wildlife Federation Attracting Birds, Butterflies, and Other Backyard Wildlife by David Mizejewski (second edition)
[4] State of the Birds 2022 - State of the Birds at a Glance
[5] The World Lost Two-Thirds Of Its Wildlife In 50 Years. We Are to Blame
[7] Why Native Plants Matter
[9] Why Prairies Matter [Native Prairies Association of Texas]
[10] The Healing Powers of Nature by By Stephen Nett
[11] Ecopsychology: How Immersion in Nature Benefits Your Health
[12] Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants by Douglas W. Tallamy, Rick Darke (Foreword)
[13] Nonnative plants reduce population growth of an insectivorous bird
[14] National Wildlife Federation
[15] The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
[16] Native Plant Society Listings - North America
[17] Growing Texas Natives
Texas Children in Nature Network - Research
U.S. has lost 24 million acres of natural land in 16 years: independent report
Ecologists Have this Simple Request to Homeowners—Plant Native
The Humane Gardener: Nurturing a Backyard Habitat for Wildlife by Nancy Lawson
Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation
