The Earth Losing Too Many Species

Far too many plants and animals and their habitats around the world are facing the risk of collapse, says a U.N. report based on a research of some 500 scientific articles and assessments made under the U.N. Environment Program.

The U.N. Convention on Biological Diversity, in a report issued every four years, warns that the survival of nearly a quarter of all plant species is threatened. Also, frogs and other amphibians are most at risk of extinction, and coral reefs are the species deteriorating most rapidly.

The report also points out the problems such as the loss of huge Amazon rainforest areas and a large number of fresh water lakes.

Pollution, climate change, drought, deforestation, illegal poaching, and overfishing are some of the reasons blamed for this crisis in terms of biodiversity.

One of the biggest problems is that species are being lost even before scientists can make enough studies to properly deal with the situations. ¡°That is the tragedy of biodiversity loss. But still, many of these problems could be solved with urgent action,¡± said Delfin Ganapin, a senior manager for the U.N. Environment Program¡¯s Global Environment Facility.

Ban Ki-moon, the U.N. Secretary General, warns that this ¡°collective failure¡± would bring severe consequences for the whole mankind on the planet unless it is corrected as soon as possible.

¡±We must give higher priority in all areas of decision-making and in all economic sectors,¡± Ban says. ¡°Conserving biodiversity cannot be thought afterward.¡±

In this regard, the U.N. had already declared 2010 would be the ¡°International Year of Biodiversity,¡± with hopes of raising awareness at the global, regional and national levels.