GEF

Unit 5  |  The Importance of Biodiversity 118 Starting in the 1960s, biologists began developing the modern idea of protected areas as reservoirs for biodiversity. In recent decades, conservationists recognize the tremendous impor- tance of working with local communities to successfully protect biodiversity. Today, protected areas include ecotourism zones, parks that permit sustainable agriculture alongside biodiversity hotspots, and biological corridors that allow seasonal migra- tions of animals through developed areas. The United Nations estimates that 10 to 15 percent of the total land area of the Earth is currently under some form of protected area manage- ment, and protected areas will continue to represent a core strategy for protecting biodiversity. Besides habitat conversion, another significant threat to biodi- versity is the accidental or intentional introduction of invasive species into the environment. Invasive species include a vast range of plants, insects, microorganisms, mammals, reptiles, and birds, many of which have had devastating effects on ecosystems and biodiversity. A well-known example is kudzu, a fast-growing vine native to Japan that was transported to the U.S. in 1876 as an ornamental garden plant. Quickly escaping from gardens into natural habitats, kudzu rapidly grows, killing native plant species by depriving them of light. Kudzu currently spreads at a rate of 150,000 acres annually. Kudzu is a fast-growing invasive that plagues the southeastern U.S. BIOLOGICAL CORRIDOR An area of protected habitat that allows species to move through developed areas. INVASIVE SPECIES A biological species that is accidentally or intentionally brought from one area to another, causing damage to native ecosystems.