Natural systems are incredibly diverse; there are over 1 billion organisms in a teaspoon of soil. This diversity supports the ecosystem, with each organism filling a specific niche. (NRCS – Soil Microorganisms)
Without biodiversity, the soil loses productivity leading to degraded soil and water quality, reduced nutrient availability, releases of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, and lower crop productivity, just to name a few.
Increasing biodiversity helps:
- Cycle ecosystem nutrients
- Plants uptake nutrients and grow well
- Improve water infiltration into, and store water in, the soil
- Reduce erosion
- Suppress pests, parasites and disease
- Aid in the capture of carbon
- Assist in the world’s gas exchange cycles
- Break down organic matter
- IMPROVE SOIL HEALTH!
- (NRCS – Principles for High Functioning Soils)