Conservation is important for so many reasons - economic value, ethics, intrinsic value, ecological balance, and a host of other reasons. Personally, my drive to conserve threatened and endangered species comes from an intrinsic appreciation for animals as well as a deep understanding of their ecological importance. I recently began volunteering with Island Conservation so that I could help by giving what I have to offer - my time and my commitment to their efforts to save species from extinction. Island Conservation inspires me because they are taking action to save some of the world's most beautiful and threatened animals on this planet - and they are succeeding. I am particularly fascinated by the evolutionary processes that have led to the diversity of species, which are often endemic to their island habitats. Every island is distinctive and beautiful, with every individual playing a critical role in maintaining the ecological balance. John Muir once wrote, 'When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe.' This rings true on islands around the world where species have evolved to provide ecological services, from distributing seeds to maintaining the balance of predators and prey. Although small, the Anacapa Deer Mouse, a subspecies of Island Deer Mouse, is important in its ecosystem. As the only endemic mammal on Anacapa Island, California, it has significant effects on the island ecosystem, where it helps to maintain the diversity of plants through seed dispersal. Island Conservation and its partners helped protect the Anacapa Deer Mouse population by removing invasive rats from the island in 2002-2003. The results were dramatic. Just like Anacapa, every island has its own unique balance of species that work together in a functional ecosystem. These ecological systems have been millions of years in the making, but can be harmed rapidly by the introduction of invasive species. The evolutionary processes that have created these ecosystems have also lead to remarkable species adaptations; many island species have developed striking colorations, which only adds to their beauty and intrigue. The reischek's Parakeet is a vibrant green bird that is often speckled with red and blue on its wings and head. This species is endemic to the Antipodes Islands, New Zealand; conservation here is necessary due to invasive rodents that invaded the limited geographical range that this and other rare species inhabit. In 2016, Island Conservation joined the Million Dollar Mouse project, an effort to restore Antipodes Island through invasive rodent removal. Many other island species have been helped or are set to be helped by such conservation efforts. This is why I give to Island Conservation: I believe the work we are doing to conserve endangered species is critical in a world where the value of species often goes unnoticed. The recovery of these species gives me hope that we can prevent future extinctions by focusing on islands where species are most at risk.
Review from #MyGivingStory