For kids' sake, let butterfly EIR proceed

PAUL R. EHRLICH / SF Chronicle 19nov00

INSECTS MAY be tiny, but their ability to touch children's curiosity can be great. Picture the wonder and amazement in a child's face when she holds a tiger swallowtail butterfly on her finger, or when he allows a rhinoceros beetle to crawl up his arm.

Using insects and other mini-animals as a way to connect San Francisco children to the natural world is what a nonprofit group called the Coevolution Institute has been doing for the past four years.

This dedicated coalition of ecologists, educators, economists, technology experts and community leaders is sponsoring a unique education program designed to teach children and adults about insects, and to encourage and support research and conservation of their habitats. Their famous Bug Mobile - a traveling museum - visited nearly 5,000 San Francisco children in its first year.

Now that same group is proposing to build a first-of-its kind biodiversity park and learning resource center featuring four acres of public gardens, science and education programs for children, and a greenhouse-like butterfly conservatory in downtown San Francisco. Called Butterfly Discovery Park, it would be built and maintained at no taxpayer expense on a small piece of public property that lies in the shadows of the Embarcadero skyscrapers.

The importance of such a resource center that would further understanding of the important role insects play in our lives cannot be overstated. Insects and other small invertebrate animals are essential components of terrestrial ecosystems, comprising more than 90 percent of the known animal species on Earth.

Our lives are inextricably linked with invertebrates that provide indispensable services to humanity and bring extraordinary beauty to the world. Although insects are little noticed or known by most people, life as we know it would be impossible without them.

As one example, insects pollinate plants, a service without which much of our food would disappear. They also help maintain soil fertility, again contributing to our food supplies.

The future of Butterfly Discovery Park now rests in the hands of the Board of Supervisors. On Monday, the supervisors will be considering a misguided ordinance that would permanently ban all new structures on the proposed site, thus closing the door forever to an important resource that could be enjoyed for generations to come.

I urge the board to reject this misguided ordinance. It isn't necessary.

There is already a legitimate process under way that will allow the public and The City to determine whether this is the best use for the property. When completed in just a few months, the Environmental Impact Review will not only reveal all the facts about the project, but provide all San Franciscans with the opportunity to judge for themselves whether or not the proposed park has merit.

Just as insects can touch children's lives, so, too, can San Francisco's Board of Supervisors. Please allow the Environmental Impact Review process to be completed.

Examiner contributor Paul R. Ehrlich is professor of population studies and president of the Center for Conservation Biology at Stanford University.