• A single hectare (100 metres X 100 metres) in the tropical rain forest of Brazil yielded 450 species of tree. ^[1] (Versus 180 species of trees in all of Canada.) ^[2]
• The tropics are home to "biodiversity hotspots" in which 44% of vascular plant species and 35% of vertebrates are found in less than 1.5% of the earth's land. ^[3]
• A single rainforest reserve in Peru is home to more species of birds than are found in the entire United States. ^[4]
• The number of species of fish in the Amazon exceeds the number found in the entire Atlantic Ocean. ^[4]
• One single tree in Peru was found to harbor 43 different species of ant. ^[4]

• Tropical forests provide a host of ecosystem services, including protecting watersheds from erosion and evaporation, nutrient cycling and providing habitat for species critical for pollination of crops. ^[5]
• Forests produce clouds and rainfall through evapotranspiration, a process essential for agriculture. ^[6] The Amazon rainforest, for example, is responsible for rainfall through much of the Americas. ^[7]
• A famous study published in Nature in 1997 estimated the value of ecosystem services worldwide at $33 trillion per year; higher than world GDP at $27 trillion (both figures in 1994 dollars). ^[8]
• Over 75% of the world's drinking water comes from forested areas. ^[9]
• Existing forests and their soils absorb one quarter of all carbon emissions. ^[9]
• More than 20 percent of all oxygen in the atmosphere is produced in the Amazon Rainforest. ^[9]
• Deforestation contributes 15-17% of total carbon emissions — more than all the world's ships, cars, trains and planes. ^[9] Avoiding deforestation is a cost effective means to lower carbon emissions. ^[9]
• One study found that protected forests in Brazil provided ecosystem services worth 50% more than agriculture would have in the same areas. ^[9]
• If land use conversion continues at the same rate as in the last 60 years, the cost of lost ecosystem services will amount to US$2 trillion to 4.5 trillion per year. ^[10]
• The U.S. National Cancer Institute has identified 3000 plants that are active against cancer cells; 70% are found in rainforests. ^[10]

• Over 6 million hectares of primary (old growth) forest are lost each year around the world — an area larger than Nova Scotia. ^[12]
• Forests once covered more than 40% of the earth's land surface. This has been reduced by over 1/3, with most loss occurring since the 1950's. ^[12]
• One and a half acres of rainforest are lost every second. ^[13]

• Overhunting is the second most important cause of extinctions in the tropics, next to habitat loss. ^[14] Several large mammal species in Africa, e.g. the Black Rhinoceros, face complete extinction due to poaching. ^[15]

• Since the 17th Century, alien species have contributed directly to nearly 40% of all animal extinctions. ^[16]
• The combined economic losses due to introduced invasive species for six countries (US, UK, South Africa, India, Brazil and Australia) is estimated at $316 billion per year. ^[17]

• 1,910 of the planet's 6,312 amphibian species are in danger of extinction, making them the most threatened group known to date. ^[17]

• Oceans cover 70% of our planet, and host a vast diversity of habitats that are home to 32 of the world's 34 phyla. ^[18]
• Coral reefs provide food, storm protection, tourism and other benefits, yet 70% of coral reefs are threatened or destroyed.xii ^[18]
• 35% of mangroves (nurseries to marine life) have been lost in just 20 years.xii ^[18]
• Over 70% of the world's fish stocks are either fully exploited or depleted. ^[19]

• Costa Rica has reduced its deforestation rate to zero, and one study found that local economies have benefited from the establishment of more protected areas. ^[20]
• In the last ten years Brazil has given protected status to 500,000 km² of Amazon rainforest. ^[20]
• Across the world there are now numerous local conservation organizations as well as international ones actively conserving nature. In Sub-Saharan Africa, for example, there are 280. ^[21]
• Protection of watersheds through ecosystem service payments is growing rapidly &mdash around the world at least 288 programs existed in 2008, up from just 51 in 2000. ^[22]
• At least 72 payment systems for biodiversity conservation, such as biodiversity banks' and offset programs, exist around the world, with a market value of USD 2.4-4.0 billion per year at minimum. ^[23]
• Voluntary carbon markets are growing globally; conservation of forests for their carbon value made up the largest share of these markets in 2010. ^[24]
• A century ago only a minute amount of land was held in nature or hunting reserves; By 2008, there were over 120,000 protected areas covering 21 million km² of land and sea, an area more than twice the size of Canada. ^[25]
• Globally, the net rate of conversion of some ecosystems has begun to slow, and in some regions ecosystems are returning to more natural states. ^[26]

• With an annual investment of US$45 billion in protected areas we could protect natural services worth some US$5 trillion: an extremely good benefit-cost ratio of 100:1. ^[27]
• An effective global system of nature reserves would cost about 2% of the annual expenditure on environmentally harmful subsidies. ^[28]
• A comprehensive global conservation program that incorporated biodiversity into all major natural resource sectors could be launched for about 20% of the cost of these subsidies. ^[28]

The Bottom Line

Conservation, especially in the tropics, is the greatest bargain and wisest investment for the future. Every conservation gain now makes a difference and will result in more of the world's hugely valuable natural heritage surviving for future generations.

Conservation Fast Facts is produced by ICFC. Chief compiler: Carmen Lishman.
This is a living document that will be regularly updated. Input welcome.