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Biodiversity
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introduction
The Earth's species are dying out at an alarming rate, up to 1000 times faster than their natural rate of extinction. Some scientists estimate that as many as 137 species disappear from the Earth each day, which adds up to an astounding 50,000 species disappearing every year. (Rainforest Action Network)
Species have been disappearing at 50-100 times the natural rate, and this is predicted to rise dramatically. 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. (Convention on Biological Diversity)
The best estimates are that between 10 and 20 percent of all species will be driven to extinction in the next 20 to 50 years. The current and impending rate of human-caused extinctions is conservatively estimated to be 100 to 1,000 times the background extinction rate. (Union of Concerned Scientists)
Estimates of the global number of species have varied from 2 million to 100 million species, with a best estimate of somewhere near 10 million, and only 1.4 million have actually been named. (World Resources Institute)
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