Wisconsin News

Biodiversity biopsy: How we can reverse species loss in Wisconsin

July 10, 2026

According to the Center for Conservation Innovation, Wisconsin is losing biodiversity — the variety of all living things — at an alarming rate.

The CCI study published in 2023 found that Wisconsin ranks high in three of the five major threats to biodiversity — climate change, overexploitation and pollution — with intensifying precipitation and rising temperatures negatively impacting the state’s species and their habitats.

So how can Wisconsin reverse these trends and begin to rebuild its biodiversity? Recently Ellen Damschen, director of the Center for Ecology and the Environment at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, talked with WPR’s Lee Rayburn about the problem — and possible solutions.

Wisconsin is far from alone in experiencing levels of what Damschen labeled “unprecedented” biodiversity loss.

Damschen revealed that some researchers are even comparing current levels of biodiversity loss to the catastrophic mass extinction events of the past such as the dying out of the dinosaurs.

“We call this the sixth mass extinction,” Damschen said. And unlike previous events that were caused by natural disasters, this is happening due to “a number of different effects that humans are having on biodiversity.”

As biodiversity — plants, animals, insects, habitats – works together to survive and thrive, so do the threats to biodiversity.

“The No. 1 cause of biodiversity loss is habitat loss and fragmentation,” Damschen revealed. “They both act in concert.”

“Habitat loss is literally the loss of area,” Damschen explained. “And fragmentation means dividing remaining habitat into smaller, more isolated pieces that are farther apart from each other.”

“When habitat loss happens, then the animals that are associated with those habitats also decline,” Damschen elaborated.

Damschen singled out bird species as being in a state of “tremendous” decline while offering several ideas to help protect them.

Citing that the No. 1 cause of bird loss is collisions, Damschen encouraged the application of visual markers like decals or dotted tape to windows.

More surprisingly, Damschen also recommended cat owners keep their pets indoors.

“Cats are the second driver of bird decline. And they can actually kill 2.4 billion birds annually in the U.S.,” Damschen said.

Further proving the interconnectedness of biodiversity, Damschen also discouraged the use of pesticides on plants, stating they have a detrimental impact on the insect population, which makes up a substantial portion of most birds’ diets.

Much of Damschen’s work in combating habitat loss and fragmentation involves implementing habitat corridors, which she described as “a thin strip of habitat to connect otherwise isolated habitat patches.”

“Some corridors are actually underpasses or overpasses across highways,” Damschen said. “They have the effect of redirecting movement. Almost like a tunnel or bridge that we might go across.”

Damschen revealed that some habitat corridors have resulted in upwards of a 20 percent increase in the total number of species in a community.

Damschen’s research has shown biodiversity loss to be a potentially reversible trend, a big reason why she sees hope for the future of Wisconsin’s biodiversity.

But, she clarified, only if motivated people act.

“There’s two different ways that we can think about this,” Damschen explained. “One is conserving what we already have. And the second is restoring what’s already been degraded.”

Citing the likelihood of continued extreme precipitation events, Damschen advised individuals to plant native species and construct rain gardens on their property.

“We know that prairie plants have deep root systems,” Damschen said. “So if we have species that have different rooting depths, that actually takes better advantage of all of the water that’s available and can help prevent these extreme flooding events.”

To access current information on native plants, as well as how to get involved in volunteering to maintain and improve the state’s natural areas, Damschen recommended information provided on Wisconsin DNR’s website.

For a fun, engaging, and communal celebration of biodiversity, Damschen encouraged joining a “bioblitz” — an event where participants work to identify as many species living in one concentrated area in a short timeframe. (For those in the Madison area, UW-Madison is hosting the Lakeshore Nature Preserve Bioblitz on Sept. 26.)

Finally, Damschen encouraged private landowners to reach out to the Wisconsin Prescribed Fire Council to learn how to use planned burning for habitat management purposes.

While optimistic, Damschen is steadfast in the need for immediate action.

“We are pushing our natural ecosystems and all of that interconnectedness to points that they have never been before,” Damschen warned.

Damschen believes that becoming an advocate for biodiversity can start with a simple venture outdoors.

“Just be curious about the natural world and notice what’s around you,” she suggested. “I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like going outside in the sunshine.”