Pollution regulations designed to protect human health can also have beneficial effects for other species. As it turns out, the improved air quality and reduced ozone pollution that followed the 1970 passage of the US Clean Air Act (and later amendments) saved the lives of 1.5 billion birds across the continent. To show this, a research team at the University of Oregon used models that combined bird observations from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s eBird program with ground-level pollution data and existing regulations. The study showed that ozone pollution is most detrimental to small migratory land birds such as sparrows, warblers, and finches – which make up 86% of all North American species. It pointed out that the Clean Air Act co-benefited humans and other species, and allowed to protect bird populations from more losses. Encouraging news, as all species play an important part in natural ecosystems!
further reading…
Pollution regulations designed to protect human health can also have beneficial effects for other species. As it turns out, the improved air quality and reduced ozone pollution that followed the 1970 passage of the US Clean Air Act (and later amendments) saved the lives of 1.5 billion birds across the continent. To show this, a research team at the University of Oregon used models that combined bird observations from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s eBird program with ground-level pollution data and existing regulations. The study showed that ozone pollution is most detrimental to small migratory land birds such as sparrows, warblers, and finches – which make up 86% of all North American species. It pointed out that the Clean Air Act co-benefited humans and other species, and allowed to protect bird populations from more losses. Encouraging news, as all species play an important part in natural ecosystems!
further reading…