Nature counting on global unity in preventing biodiversity loss

Biodiversity is vital to the survival of the human race. We rely on biodiversity for medicine, the growth of our crops, the purity of our water systems and the durability of our rainforests. But biodiversity is diminishing at an alarming rate. It is estimated that 0.1% of the world's species become extinct every year. For every species that goes extinct, its associated species - parasites, predators, prey - are also affected. The United Nations (UN) Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) has set international targets to halt the loss of biodiversity by 2020. But to halt the loss of biodiversity scientists first need to be able to accurately measure it - a task which divides international opinion.