Today biological diversity is a hot topic all over the world. The imminent extinction of many plant and animal species has scientists sounding the alarm. To be able to get the organisms and get them in a culture collection is essential. The chemistry found in nature is not found anywhere else. Besides medicines, there could be things useful for crop protection or even industrial chemicals.
Biodiversity is particularly critical in Hawai'i.
The Hawaiian Islands cover less than 1 percent of the total land area of the United States, yet more than a third of the bird and plant species on the country's endangered species list are indigenous to Hawai'i. They are victims of urban development, pollution and introduced organisms that either prey upon native Hawaiian species or directly compete with them for food and living space. More than 1,000 indigenous Hawaiian plants and animals have become extinct since man first arrived here some 15 centuries ago. There are few nutrients and everything is very slow growing. Cave bacteria take three weeks or more to get to visible colonies.