The term first came to public attention in 1992 at the Rio Earth Summit at which a convention for the preservation for the maintenance of biodiversity was signed by over 100 world leaders [excluding the USA as they feared it would undermine the patents and licences of US biotechnology companies]

The maintenance of biodiversity is important for ecological stability and maintaining the gene pool, and as a resource for research into, for example, new drugs and crops

What is causing a reduction in biodiversity in both the developed [EDC] and less developed [ELDC] worlds?

Most of the threats currently faced by species of plants and animals are linked to human action. In some cases this action, for example, hunting, deliberately aims to reduce species numbers[ e.g. White Rhino-sole purpose of which is to cut the horn off for illegal sale to Asian (mainly China) who mistakenly believe it has aphrodisiac powers]. There few Rhinos left and some subspecies have disappeared altogether e.g. Javan and Sumatran. Similar fate is facing the tiger e.g. Bengal

Fragmented destruction of habitats as well as total destruction can also bring about reductions in biodiversity by reducing the chances of normal dispersion and colonization processes of species and reduces areas for foraging

COUNTRY FOREST %LOSS GRASSLAND % LOSS WETLAND/MARSH % LOSS

The list of species drive to extinction by hunters in the present century is a sad one. it includes Rhinos and elephant in Africa [although the latter is making a comeback in some areas and needs culling (interference with farming activity)] and most species of Whale. As with the tiger, killing is driven by the high market price for products derived from the dead carcass.

For example, goats were introduced on the South Atlantic island of St Helena in the 15,00's and within 75 years vast herds were grazing the island. There were once estimated to be 100 plant species, today 40 are known, 7 are now extinct and the rest are under threat.

Habitat destruction and modification is the most serious threat to biodiversity. Some indication of the extent of this problem is given in the table below:

Some common words found in the essay are:
Stone Age, St Helena, Earth Summit, DATA MALAYSIA, Fund Nature, Siberian Tiger, Sumatran Similar, UK UK, White Rhino-sole, Darwin Initiative, habitat destruction, species example, giant panda, maintenance biodiversity, reductions biodiversity, % loss, human action,
Approximate Word count = 1147
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)