Globally, our habitats and ecosystems are degrading at an alarming rate, jeopardizing biodiversity— a term used to summarize the variety and interconnectedness of our planet’s organisms.
Biodiversity has developed over millions of years to form the complex landscape that we see today. While we often think about biodiversity in simplified terms, in reality, it involves several factors such as species diversity and interactions, habitat diversity, genetic variation, and the range of differences within the larger biological units that we call biomes. Without biodiversity, life on Earth would cease to exist; it provides us with oxygen, nourishment, clean water, medicine, science, and shelter, amongst countless other things.
Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) in the Laja. Photo by Paola Rangel, Aves Compartidas Program Instructor.
Life is resilient, intricate, and above all, delicate; biodiversity needs to be protected
The state of Oregon spans an estimated 98,000 square miles (250,000 km2) and hosts over 400 species of birds, 136 mammals, 30 species of reptiles, 31 amphibian species, 200 species of fish, and 3,300 species of flowering plants.
The state of Guanajuato spans an estimated 11,818 square miles (30,608 km2) and hosts over 366 species of birds, 87 mammals, 81 species of reptiles, 25 amphibian species, 38 species of fish, and 2,786 flowering plants.
The states of Oregon and Guanajuato are over 2,000 miles apart, separated by diverse biomes and climates such as temperate rainforests, hot deserts, and extensive grasslands. Still, we are connected.
Using a platform of shared migratory birds, Our Aves Compartidas program celebrates both our similarities and our differences, appreciating the interconnected web of life.
In recognition of the interconnectedness of our ecosystems, we are now beginning a series of events where we appreciate the biodiversity and connections across the Americas through cuisine.
For our first virtual cooking event, we will transverse the varied cuisine of one of the smallest nations in the Americas: Ecuador. Located on the western boundary of South America and nestled between Colombia and Peru, Ecuador contains 4 distinct bioregions: the coast (la costa), the Andes (la sierra), the Amazon (Amazonía), and the Galápagos (insular).
To learn more information about this virtual cooking event and to register please visit the event page or scan the QR code in the flier above.
