. In some countries a number of animal and plant species is declining. What are the reasons? What can be done to solve the problem?

Plants and animals provide many valuable services. These clear air, regulate our weather and water resources. Extinction of species could potentially mean loss of cure for cancer, a new antibiotic drug or a disease resistant strain of wheat. Each living plant or animal may have values yet undiscovered.

There are plants and animals which exist in small numbers that may be lost forever if we do not take quick action to stop their decline. Loss of habitat of a plant or animal is usually the most important cause for endangerment. Nearly all plants and animals require food, water and shelter to survive.

At the onset, at least a quarter of mammal species are heading towards extinction. Plants and animals are declining rapidly or are on the verge of vanishing rapidly.

Over fifteen years, there has been an international collaborative and coordinated effort to determine the potential cause for decline and to help conserve and protect these species for future generation. Legislation was passed to protect the species in the U.S. These species cannot be destroyed or killed and nor can their habitat be eliminated.

Every year an estimated 400 species of animals and plants go extinct in the wild. It is estimated that only 10—20% of the animal species on Earth have been cataloged. Rapid environmental changes cause the extinction of all species that had existed. Around 99.9% are now extinct.

Today, there is a concern that the period since the emergence of humans, there is mass reduction in biodiversity called the “Holocene extinction’. This is caused primarily by human activities, like destruction of plant and animal species.

The last remaining number of species that are dying are; Tigers, Thylacine, Dodo, Passenger Pigeon. Monk seal, etc., Those at risk are mountain turtle, fox and rhino. Currently 1,556 known species in the world have been identified as endangered or near extinction and are under protection by Government laws.

The main causes for animal extinction are poaching, medical research, climatic charges, starvation death etc. In fact global warming is predicted to put at least 20 to 30% of plant and animal species at risk of extinction.

To conclude, habitat protection is the key for protecting our rare species. . Our first priority is to protect their habitats. Before we protect plants or animal’s habitat, we need to know where the habitat is found and where these species are vanishing.