State of biodiversity in Latin America and the Caribbean

Abstract

Of All the world’s regions, Latin America and the Caribbean has the greatest biological diversity. This informational leaflet provides a better understanding of the value asset that we are losing and offers suggestions on how to reduce the rate of biodiversity degradation. In Latin America and the Caribbean region, habitat alteration and transformation are generating the current biodiversity crisis. Contents: Introduction-- A. Biodiversity in 2010-- 1. Terrestrial ecosystems -- 2. Inland waters ecosystems -- 3. Marine and coastal—Ecosystems -- 4. Species populations and extinction risks -- 5. Genetic diversity -- 6. Current pressures on biodiversity -- B. Regional biodiversity trends for the twenty-first century -- 1. Terrestrial ecosystems -- 2. Inland water ecosystems -- 3. Coastal and marine ecosystems -- C. Strategy and vision for reducing biodiversity loss.