Tropical plant species face an inherently high extinction risk due to small populations and restricted ranges relative to temperate species, reports research published in PLoS ONE. These traits leave them vulnerable to habitat disturbance and climate change. Analyzing databases for the number of plant species at risk in each country of the world as well as human factors including GDP, population density and deforestation, Jana Vamosi and Steven Vamosi found that human activity was not the primary cause of the increasing risk of extinction in the tropics. "Our findings differ from previous ones in that factors tightly linked to human activity were not particularly important in determining how many plant species were threatened with extinction. Instead, the most important factor seemed to be simply latitude. So, extinction dynamics may be very different between plant and animal species." said Steven Vamosi, a biologist at the University of Calgary. "Plant species near the equator may persist at naturally low population sizes or have small ranges, making them intrinsically more susceptible to a given amount of disturbance." Vamosi says that 20 to 45 per cent of species in the tropics are at risk. The tropics hold 60 percent of Earth's plant species despite making up only 12 percent of its land mass. "This is not to say that human activities are not underlying contemporary risk of extinction; instead, it implies that plant species in a tropical country will, on average, be more sensitive to a given amount of human disturbance than those in a temperate country," he added. Today, human activities are causing a massive extinction of animals. The rising ocean temperatures dont let the plankton reproduce, therefore, undermining the entire ocean ecosystem. Commerical fishing today is threatining to empty the entire ocean of fish in the next few decades. http://news.mongabay.com/2008/1210-biodiversity.html
Modern agricultural practices strip the Earth of its thin layer of topsoil through water and wind erosion, destroying this precious micro ecosystem that takes centuries to form and supports all life on land. Furthermore, bee populations are plummeting as a result of mite infestations and a mysterious problem called Colony Collapse Disorder. Over 70% of our food is pollinated by bees; if bee populations fall too far, our food supplies will be seriously threatened.

The Amur Leopard

The Amur Leopard is the single most critically endangered species of cat in the world, with an estimated 30 individuals remaining.
The threats against these cats are high, including poaching, deforestation, negative impacts of inbreeding, development projects, and lack of political comment to conservation.

Poachers of this magnificent breed consist of poor local villagers desperate for financial support, and Russian hunters placing traps and snares for deer. Amur Leopards are commonly caught and killed in the snares that the hunters leave for other various prey.

Frequent fires are demolishing the forests where the Leopards make their homes. Locals are unintentionally causing this in their attempts to stimulate the growth of ferns that are popular ingredients in many Russian and Chinese dishes.

Loss of genetic diversity in the population of the Amur Leopard may be the cause of inbreeding depression (reduced numbers due to reduced reproduction and lifespan and increased vulnerability to diseases). This is, however, a hypothesis, for extensive research is prohibited due to the drastically low number of population among the leopards.

A key threat to the species is human technology and development. Their environment is located close to Russian borders with China and North Korea, making it an attractive location for railways and gas and oil pipelines and ports. Currently, the Zoological Society of London is campaigning against the plan to construct an oil pipeline terminal on the Sea of Japan's coast, within the Amur Leopards' range.

In recent years wildlife in Russia has suffered from a lack of political interest in conservation. Negative developments since 2000 include the abolishment of the State Committee for Nature Conservation, revoking the law enforcement rights of Inspection Tiger (an anti-poaching brigade for protection of tigers and leopards), and a reduction of 80% in the number of field inspectors for protection of forests and animals.

These leopards are drastically close to extinction. To help the conservation of these animals, show support to

1. Anti-poaching
2. Forest fire-fighting
3. Compensation for livestock killed by tigers and leopards
4. A comprehensive education and public awareness programme
5. Population monitoring (Snow-track counts and camera trapping)
6. Ecological and biomedical research
7. Support for protected areas and hunting leases
8. Lobbying for improved conservation policies and regulations
9. Amur leopard conservation in China