Global Biodiversity

<p><span style='font-size:9.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:
&quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:#333333;mso-bidi-font-weight:
bold'>Recent studies clarify where the most vulnerable species live, where and
how humanity changes the planet, and how this drives extinctions. We assess key
statistics about species, their distribution, and their status. Most are
undescribed. Those we know best have large geographical ranges and are often
common within them. Most known species have small ranges. The numbers of
small-ranged species are increasing quickly, even in well-known taxa. They are
geographically concentrated and are disproportionately likely to be threatened
or already extinct. Current rates of extinction are about 1000 times the likely
background rate of extinction. Future rates depend on many factors and are
poised to increase. Although there has been rapid progress in developing protected
areas, such efforts are not ecologically representative, nor do they optimally
protect biodiversity. </span><a href='http://biodiversitymapping.org/' style='line-height: 1.38461538461538;' target='_blank'>Biodiversity Mapping</a></p>