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A Look At California's Changing Environment

Introduction
California is known as being one of the most biologically diverse regions not only in this country, but also in the world (Defenders, 2006). Within its 160,000 square miles, California's varied habitat harbors more unique species of plants and animals than any other state. The diversity of climates and landscapes, and all the barriers to migrations such as rivers, mountains, and deserts, has led over thousands of years to the evolution of a large number of isolated species and varieties of animals, many of which are found only in California. For example, there are about 30,000 species of insects recorded from California, 63 freshwater fishes, 46 amphibians, 96 reptiles, 563 birds, 190 mammals, and about 8,000 plants (Kammerer, 2004). The unique composition of the Golden State's wildlife is what makes its landscapes so beautiful.
Yet it is also true that today, California's extraordinary diversity is being lost in many important habitats throughout the coastal state (Wikipedia, 2006). It is estimated that over twenty percent of California's naturally occurring species of amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals are classified as endangered, threatened, or "of special concern" by agencies of the state and federal governments (Kammerer, 2006).These threats can be measured throughout the state whether on land or in the water.
Biologists believe that the basic cause of this drastic wildlife reduction is an ever-increasing human population that is degrading the environment at an ever-accelerating rate. California's population is estimated to increase from approximately 36 million residents to 50 million over the next three decades (Wikipedia, 2006). With the state's population as concentrated as it is in most areas, the only places that can accommodate this type of growth are existing wildlife habitats. California has seen its share of rapid growth in the past. The once heavily forested state is now much less covered, resulting in high levels of...