The Aquarium’s president provided expert testimony in front of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources’ Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries
We all have a connection to nature, and benefit from it in diverse ways. Nature provides our nation with food, jobs, and numerous sources of revenue as well as supports our wellbeing and health. Aquarium of the Pacific President & CEO Dr. Peter Kareiva spoke about the benefits of nature and how science can balance the competing needs on our natural resources during a legislative hearing of the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries, House Natural Resources Committee on March 25 in Washington, D.C. “Nature is for you, me, all of us. We may see its value in different ways, but we all need a healthy natural world, and science can help all of us achieve that goal,” says Dr. Kareiva, Aquarium of the Pacific president and CEO.
Dr. Kareiva discussed recent research on the health benefits of nature, including improving cognitive function, speeding the healing process, and reducing blood pressure and pain. He highlighted our renowned parks that bring tourism from around the world. He also outlined examples of how healthy predator populations and ecosystems support human health, our food supply, and industry.
Nature is valuable, and that value can lead to competition for its uses and benefits, but this is where research can be the answer, Dr. Kareiva stresses. “With science, we can find solutions that benefit both business and nature. We can invest in science so we can pursue growth and development by design, without bankrupting our economy and losing the natural assets that set America apart from the rest of the world,” says Dr. Kareiva. During the hearing, he talked about the importance of kelp forests, the gray wolf, and environmental legislation. He noted that science changes from year to year. Dr. Kareiva emphasizes, “The key to science helping us achieve a win for conservation and a win for livelihoods is that science be up-to-date and be intentional in its service to both nature and people.”
The nonprofit Aquarium of the Pacific’s mission is to instill a sense of wonder, respect, and stewardship for the Pacific Ocean, its inhabitants, and ecosystems. The Aquarium’s vision is to foster an inclusive community that works together to create our sustainable future. More than 100 exhibits and 12,000 animals connect its 1.6 million annual visitors to nature, and dozens of the Aquarium’s conservation programs are saving species, from frogs and sea turtles to sea otters and kelp. The Aquarium of the Pacific is a member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), which collectively serves more than 147 million people per year in the U.S. alone. To make a donation to help support the Aquarium, please visit pacific.to/donate.
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Press contact: Marilyn Padilla, mpadilla@lbaop.org
