Posted on April, 23 2007

Life. This more than anything sets Planet Earth apart. Millions of unique species interacting to create complex and beautiful ecosystems - coral reefs, tropical rainforests, savannahs, alpine meadows, wetlands, and arctic tundra, to name just a very few.

A world without this wondrous biodiversity is impossible to imagine. But this is the direction we are headed. Thanks to destructive human activities, the current rate of species extinction is at least 100-1,000 times higher than the expected natural rate. This biodiversity loss is damaging ecosystems and the essential services they provide, causing people, especially the poor, to suffer.

Species conservation is vital - and it does work. Already, conservation efforts have brought many animals back from the brink of extinction. Such efforts have also helped conserve these species’ wider ecosystems, and often demonstrably brought great benefits to local people through new livelihood opportunities, sustainable development, and ongoing ecosystem services.

But not enough is being done
WWF challenges governments, scientists, industry, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and local communities to embrace both the complexities and the opportunities of species conservation, and deliver integrated conservation and development outcomes. Doing so will help save both species and poor communities - and ultimately help us all by providing a sustainable future in which people live in harmony with nature.

Download the brochure to find out more about why species conservation is so vital, and more about the work of WWF's Global Species programme.