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the rain forest. The goal of conservationists is to preserve as much of the earth’s biodiversity as possible. Since tropical rain forests contain more biodiversity than any other terrestrial ecosystem, their preservation is critically important. No temperate zone region can match the biodiversity of the tropical forests, but this does not mean that temperate zone ecosystems are not worth protecting. If they die out, the earth will lose significant biodiversity.
Among temperate zone regions, the Chicago area ranks high in biodiversity. The varied landscape of the midwest included prairies, savannas, woodlands, forests, and many different types of wetlands. With so many different communities present, many species of plants and animals thrived here. Cornfields, lawns, and parking lots have nearly obliterated these distinctive ecosystems. Many of the best surviving examples are here in the metropolitan area, especially in the forest preserve systems of Cook and the collar counties. If we do not protect them here, there is a real chance that they will vanish from the face of the earth.
