The Biodiversity Crisis• Current extinction rates are 50-500 times historical levels

& increasing

• Estimated 3,000 – 30,000 species go extinct every year

• Over 50% of animal species are listed as critically endangered, endangered, or vulnerable to extinction

• At current extinction rates, over half the plant & animal species will be extinct by the end of the 21st century

Major Causes of the Biodiversity Crisis1. Habitat destruction

2. Introduced species

3. Overexploitation

The Hundred Heartbeat ClubYangtze river dolphin Phillipine eagle

Kakapo

Javan rhinoceros

Who Cares?

• Biophilia - biodiversity is critical to...our survival & our sanity

• Ethical obligation

Thank You!