HabitatNet: Concluding Remarks

"If the land mechanism as a whole is good, then every part of it is good, whether we understand it or not. If the biota, in the course of eons, has built something we like but do not understand, then who but a fool would discard seemingly useless parts? To keep every cog and wheel is the first precaution of intelligent tinkering."

Aldo Leopold: A Sand County Almanac

Certainly, this report is just a beginning. Much more work needs to be done and will be done over the next several years. Basic taxonomic work complimented with continuing investigations of species interactions will allow us to more fully understand and appreciate the wisdom of Aldo Leopold.

Organismic adaptation and speciation can not keep pace with the accelerating extinction rate caused by our species' ignorance. In addition to the basic research and investigations afforded by this project, a primary focus is to reacquaint students and their teachers with nature so that we may better understand our fundamental role and responsibility in safeguarding global biological diversity.