PRIORITIES FOR CONSERVING GLOBAL SPECIES RICHNESS AND ENDEMISM

The Convention on Biological Diversity aims to encourage and enable co untries to conserve biological diversity, to use its components sustai nably and to share benefits equitably. Species richness and endemism a re two key attributes of biodiversity that reflect the complexity and uniqueness of natural ecosystems. National data on vertebrates and hig her plants indicate global concentrations of biodiversity and can assi st in defining priorities for action. Projections indicate that specie s and ecosystems will be at maximum risk from human activities during the next few decades. Prompt action by the world community can minimis e the eventual loss of species. Highest priorities should be to: (i) s trengthen the management of ecosystems containing a large proportion o f global biodiversity; (ii) help developing countries complete their b iodiversity strategies and action plans, monitor their own biodiversit y, and establish and maintain adequate national systems of conservatio n areas; (iii) support actions at the global level, providing benefit to all countries in managing their own biodiversity. Generally, resour ces will best be spent in safeguarding ecosystems and habitats that ar e viable and important for global biodiversity, and which are threaten ed by factors that can be controlled cost-effectively. Other important criteria are representativeness, complementarity and insurance.