News Stories - Asia: species loss
The humid tropics of South East Asia are one of the Earth's major reservoirs of animal and plant species. But this rich biodiversity is under threat because of continuing habitat-loss. Vast areas are being cleared through deforestation either for agriculture or urban development and if habitats continue to disappear at their present rate, then between thirteen and forty two per cent of wildlife will become extinct. These predictions have been calculated by scientists through Singapore, Australia and Japan, who looked at species loss in Singapore over the last one hundred and eighty years. Here habitats of terrestrial and freshwater species have shrunk by ninety five per cent, and forest reserves, which cover only a quarter of a per cent of Singapore's land area, now harbour more than fifty per cent of flora and fauna. By comparing this data to the rest of the region the scientists calculated these huge losses. The authors say that major conservation efforts need to be put in place otherwise many species will be lost forever.
 
- vocabulary:
major reservoirs: biggest sources
biodiversity: wide variety of plants and animals
deforestation: cutting down trees
urban development: building towns or cities

at their present rate: at the speed it is happening now

become extinct: die out so no more of a species is left


terrestrial and freshwater species: plants and animals that live on land or in freshwater (rivers and lakes)

harbour: give protection to
flora and fauna: animal and plant life


major conservation efforts: big projects which protect the environment
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