Members of the SSI Daechi Wildlife Club recently carried out a research project inspired by a simple but strong question: Do all green spaces truly support biodiversity? Guided by their club advisor, Mr. Brian Choe, the students designed an experiment using small garden boxes and began observing how different environments can affect the variety of living organisms that can inhabit them.

Most people assume that neat, green lawns are typically environmental-friendly spaces. However, research suggests that lawns may contain far less biodiversity than natural habitats. For example, a single square meter of forest soil can support hundreds of thousands of arthropods, including decomposers, pollinators, predators, and herbivores.     In contrast, spaces dominated by grass often show significantly lower levels of arthropod biomass.

Intrigued by this, the students decided to conduct a comparative experiment using two garden boxes. Both boxes were filled with natural soil collected from an area near Tancheon river in Seoul.

The first box was designed to encourage a more natural microecosystem. The students added natural elements like rocks, bark, and twigs on top of the soil, creating small shelters where organisms could hide and live. These structures also prevent the soil from overheating under sunlight and provide surfaces where vines and other plants can grow. The goal was to observe how the ecosystem develops over time while minimizing artificial intervention as much as possible.

The second box was planted with grass seeds to create conditions similar to a typical lawn environment. The students plan to limit the use of fertilizers or pesticides in order to keep the soil conditions in both boxes as similar as possible.

The main purpose of this project is to observe different levels of biodiversity between a grass-covered environment and a comparatively more natural habitat. The students are eager to explore how a wide range of organisms can coexist even within a small space.

This project highlights the curiosity and environmental awareness of SSI Wildlife Club members. By designing and carrying out their own experiment, the students are gaining valuable experience in ecological observation while developing a deeper understanding of biodiversity and the important role that everyday green spaces play in our lives.