An unread book Finding the powers of epothilones and taxol, compounds which play important roles in the life cycles of these organisms, is part of the continuing chain of discovery about living systems derived from biological diversity. As both examples demonstrate, it is hard to predict where such discoveries are likely to be made within the kingdoms of life. It is wondrous really. The role biodiversity plays as the basic library for the life sciences would be reason enough for its conservation. Yet it is only one cause for concern about the accelerating loss of species around the world.
Biological diversity is under assault in virtually every kind of habitat, terrestrial or aquatic.
Virtually every environmental problem or stress affects it. So its loss is both a problem in itself and integrates all environmental issues. In essence biological diversity represents the 'bottom line' of human impact on the globe. The impact on forests is dramatic. Furthermore, deforestation is usually thought of as the single greatest generator of extinctions, since forests, especially those in the tropics, represent one of the richest natural stores of plant, animal and microorganismal species on the planet.