Extinctions

• 137 species are estimated to go extinct each day
• 50,000 species are estimated to go extinct each year
• 1,201 species were on the U.S. endangered species list as of October 1999
• 43 percent of endangered and threatened animals in the U.S. depend on wetlands
• 40 percent of all modern medicines are either modeled on or synthesized from natural compounds derived from various species
• 95 percent of known plant species have yet to be screened for their medicinal values
• 30 million species of plants and animals -- more than half of all life forms on our planet -- live in rainforests 
• According to scientists, more than one and one-half million species exist on the earth today. However, recent estimates state that at least 20 times that many species inhabit the planet.
• In the United States, 735 species of plants and 496 species of animals are listed as threatened or endangered.
• 266 of these listed species have recovery plans currently under development.
• There are more than 1,000 animal species endangered worldwide.
• There are more than 3,500 protected areas in existence worldwide. These areas include parks, wildlife refuges and other reserves. They cover a total of nearly 2 million square miles (5 million square km), or 3% of our total land area.
• Aquatic species, which are often overlooked, are facing serious trouble. One third of the United States’ fish species, two-thirds of its crayfish species, and almost three-quarters of its mussel species are in trouble.