Abstract:
For the first time the IUCN SSC network of 8,000 scientists have
identified 100 of the most threatened animals, plants and fungi.
The declines of most of these species have been caused by
humans and in almost all cases their extinction can be avoided
and the decline reversed. Thus, their future existence lies squarely
in our hands. Whether they disappear forever or remain on the
planet simply depends on whether we as a society believe they
are worth protecting. In this book we ask you to consider whether
the 100 most threatened species are priceless or worthless. Do
they have the right to exist or do we have the right to drive them
to extinction?
The book starts by introducing 100 species from 48 different
countries that will be the next to go if conservation action is not
taken immediately. Twenty-five of the 100 are highlighted to
demonstrate the diversity of life that is about to be lost. We
introduce the reader to the unique traits and characteristics of
each species – essentially the wonder and natural beauty of
each creature, plant and fungi. We then highlight examples of
species that have been brought back from the brink of extinction
such as Przewalski’s horse or the Chatham Island’s black robin,
demonstrating that averting extinction is possible.
Although a few species on the list provide economic benefits
to people, such as the sale of the Giant yellow croaker’s swim
bladder (worth over seven times the price of gold in 2001) for use
in traditional medicine, the majority do little for society other then
represent cultural or existence values. If the 100 species on this
list were to disappear tomorrow there would be little impact on
the global economy, jobs or security. This is in fact the case for
millions of species on the planet, where their value to humanity
is unknown or tangential at best.
With the threats to biodiversity rapidly escalating, and growing
numbers of species on the doorstep of extinction, society is
at a point in history where a decision needs to be made. Do
these species have the right to exist? A decision not to tolerate
human-caused extinction would of course be entirely value
based – but so is the alternative of allowing extinction to occur.
We need to decide where we stand on this moral and ethical
issue and implement and enforce national and international
laws accordingly. So – it is up to us. The future of these species
depends on our values, are they priceless or worthless?
