The current rate of global biodiversity
loss is not only unprecedented in the history of the earth, it is
projected to increase. Natural history should be of utmost
importance during this biodiversity crisis, yet it remains largely
ignored. The vast majority of species on earth, if they are even
described, remain unknown in life - they are names in books or
specimens in museums. The study of natural history seeks to describe
the lives of organisms, to discover the intriguing and fascinating
traits and behaviors that all species possess, and elevate their
value from a human perspective. While the study of natural history
leads to inspiring discoveries, it is also vital for conservation
action. Good natural history information is critical to all sound
conservation efforts. One cannot conserve biodiversity without
detailed knowledge about the lives (e.g. where they breed, what they
eat) of the species of concern. Like taxonomy and morphology, natural
history itself is a component of biodiversity and should be
catalogued and saved. The current academic trends towards developing
models and testing theory, while worthy pursuits, yield little record
of the ecological and behavioral legacy of our planet's biodiversity.
Observation and description are the tools of the natural historian. While few dispute the importance of natural history data, the use of these methods and the publication of natural history information are discouraged in academia today, effectively limiting the resources available to those attempting to pursue natural history studies. As a result, natural history data are rarely collected in the field, and little of what is collected is made available to others. Although there is an increasing dialogue on the importance of, and problems facing, the study of natural history, funding, publishing, and hiring pressures continue to discourage basic natural history research, and there is little evidence that this will change in the foreseeable future. The YNHRG is a proactive group attempting to promote and carry out natural history research in the absence of traditional support.