Yet in our quest for growth, we seem to have lost sight of this fact. We have, this century, been destroying the Earth’s biological diversity at an alarming rate. Species extinction is at a level never known before. Ecosystems such as forests, wetlands and grasslands are being altered and destroyed for our own ends, upsetting the delicate balance of nature.There is much to be gained from conserving biodiversity. We depend upon plant and animal species for food, medicines and raw materials. The genetic resources contained within them form the basis of our continued existence. And there is no doubt that the beauty and variety of living species greatly improve our quality of life.We cannot continue to exploit our biological resources indefinitely. Conserving biological diversity is a slow process, but some action has already been taken. National and international measures are in place to protect both plants and animals, at least partially. And the UN Conference on Environment and Development was an important way of bringing environmental issues to the forefront of world thinking. It was at this conference that the Convention on Global Biodiversity was signed, a convention designed to iron out the differences between developed and developing countries on the subject of biodiversity and its management, and to ensure that global biodiversity is protected.This action has come not a minute too early. The existence of clear objectives, under UN supervision, will make it easier to protect our living resources. Working together, we can ensure both our own future and the future of our planet.