Threatened ecosystems, threatened economies
Disappearing animals may not seem so important compared with the threat of water shortages and lethal heat waves, but Vié points out how the welfare of biodiversity and humans is intrinsically linked. "If you lose coral reefs, hundreds of millions of people will be affected – they will have no food, no income from tourism."
He says one outcome of the mapping exercise could be to anticipate what regions are going to need humanitarian aid in future.
[via: http://environment.newscientist.com]
