In May 2013, students from all over the country came to Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve near New Orleans, Louisiana, for a National Park Service/National Geographic BioBlitz. Together, they developed a sense of awe about the natural world as they worked together with volunteer scientists, teachers, and other community members to find and identify as many species of plants, animals, microbes, fungi, and other organisms as possible within the 24-hour event.

“Biodiversity is both a practical necessity and a spiritual underpinning of human existence. All organisms on our planet rely on the complex web of life for physical resources essential to survival: air, water, food, and a healthy environment. The human species is no exception, and unfortunately, our actions have upset the very balance of the global ecosystem. None of us can know where the line is drawn—how many species lost, and which ones, before we have gone too far..."

—David Prend, Managing General Partner and co-founder of RockPort Capital Partners, and Chairman of EOWBF Board of Directors