"2010 Year of Biodiversity Tries to Rein in Runaway Extinctions"

"NEW YORK -- Due to human activities, the world's animal and plant species are disappearing at a rate some experts put at 1,000 times the natural progression, the United Nations said January 1, marking 2010 as the International Year of Biodiversity -- the variety of life on Earth.

The purpose of the International Year is to raise public awareness of the importance of biodiversity and the consequences of its loss to human well-being.

The Year's official launch will take place in Berlin on January 11. This will be followed on January 21 and 22 by the first major event of the International Year, a high-profile meeting at the Paris headquarters of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO, which is expected to bring together heads of state, royalty and their representatives."

Environment News Service had the story January 4, 2010.

See Also:

"Endangered Species To Get Daily Web Spot In 2010" (Reuters)