Extinctions

Extinction: Permanent disappearance of a species from the Earth.

- The International Union for Conservation of Nature publishes the Red List.
The Red List has the names of species that are under the threat of extinction.
- Factors which are causing extinction rates to rise:
Habitat destruction: draining wetlands, cutting down rainforest, polluting water, air and soil.
Poaching (for food or sport)
- Despite conservation efforts, organisms are still going extinct because of:
Lack of political support for conservation
Increased demand for the pelts/horns of organisms
Internationally organised criminal poaching groups.
- Some conservationist believe that conservation efforts should be concentrated on organisms
which are easier to save, rather than those which are costly and high-profile. Others are trying to
conserve whole ecosystems instead of concentrating on individual species.