... safeguard this precious heritage for future generations. Sadly, the earth's biological foundation is eroding at a rate unequalled in at least 65 million years. Globally, species have been disappearing at 50-100 times the natural rate. Based on current trends, an estimated 34,000 plant and 5,200 animal species - including one in eight of the world's bird species - face extinction. Only a fraction (1.6 million species.) of the world's total number of about 30 million species, science identified. Global warming is already changing habitats and the distribution of species. This year's theme is: Biodiversity: Life Insurance for our Changing World An added focus for 2005 is the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. More than 1,300 scientists in 95 countries took the study into the effects of human practice of the world's ecosystems. The biodiversity synthesis launched the report of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. This five-year programme, pioneered by the UN Secretary-General, studied the correlation between ecosystems ...

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