• 20 the number of years since a bunch of nations offered to step up conservation efforts
• 1:5 of the world’s vertebrate species are reportedly in danger of extinction today, despite this
• 18% the magnitude worse that things would be if not for in-place conservation efforts source

• » Why is this a big deal, anyway? Well, one thing to keep in mind is that having a rich environment has its own economic benefits. So-called “ecosystem services,” which provide such things as clean drinking water and pest control, are worth $33 trillion a year, according to Birdlife International ornithologist Stuart Butchart. He says that ignoring the environment could be the equivalent of losing seven percent of the global GDP. Wow.

Posted by Ernie Smith • Permalink