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SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN IN THE MILLENNIUM REPORT: BIODIVERSITY – THE WEB OF LIFE

iological diversity – or biodiversity – is the term given to the variety of life on Earth and the natural patterns it forms. The biodiversity we see today is the fruit of billions of years of evolution, shaped by natural processes and, increasingly, by the influence of humans. It forms the web of life of which we are an integral part and upon which we so fully depend. This diversity is often understood in terms of the wide variety of plants, animals and micro-organisms. So far, about 1.75 million species have been identified, mostly small creatures, such as insects. Scientists reckon that there are actually about 13 million species, though estimates range from 3 million to 100 million. Biodiversity also includes genetic differences within each species – for example, between varieties of crops and breeds of livestock. Yet another aspect is the variety of ecosystems, such as those that occur in deserts, forests, wetlands, mountains, lakes, rivers and agricultural landscapes. It is the combination of life forms and their interactions with each other and with the rest of the environment that has made Earth a uniquely habitable place for humans.

He is changing life on Earth.

Protecting biodiversity is in our self-interest. Nature's products support such diverse industries as agriculture, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, pulp and paper, horticulture, con­struction and waste treatment. The loss of biodiversity threatens our food supplies, oppor­tunities for recreation and tourism, and sources of wood, medicines and energy. It also interferes with essential ecological functions.

Just consider the many goods and services provided by ecosystems:

¨ Provision of food, fuel, fibre and shelter and building materials;

¨ Purification of air and water, detoxification and decomposition of wastes;

¨ Stabilization and moderation of Earth's climate;

¨ Moderation of floods, droughts, temperature extremes and the forces of wind;

¨ Generation and renewal of soil fertility, including nutrient cycling;

¨ Pollination of plants, including many crops, control of pests and diseases;

¨ Maintenance of genetic resources as key inputs to crop varieties and livestock breeds and medicines;

¨ Cultural and aesthetic benefits.

While the loss of such charismatic animals as pandas, tigers, elephants, rhinoceroses, whales and various species of birds catches our attention, it is the fragmentation, degra­dation and outright loss of forests, wetlands, coral reefs and other ecosystems that pose the gravest threat to biological diversity.

Our cultural identity is also deeply rooted in our biological environment. Plants and animals are symbols of our world, preserved in flags, sculptures and other images that define us. We draw inspiration just from looking at nature's beauty and power.

While loss of species has always occurred as a natural phenomenon, the pace of extinction has accelerated dramatically as a result of human activity. We are creating the greatest extinction crisis since the natural disaster that wiped out the dinosaurs 65 mil­lion years ago. These extinctions are irreversible and, given our dependence on food crops, medicines and other biological resources, pose a threat to our own well-being.

"I call upon the Millennium Summit to promote the adoption and imple­mentation of the Kyoto Protocol. Specifically, I urge those States whose rat­ifications are needed to bring it into effect to take the necessary action in time for entry into force by 2002, as a fitting celebration of our progress since Stockholm in 1972 and Rio in 1992."

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