The Mission of Government 2.3. Roles of the Key Players 4.3. Institutional Changes Required 4.4. Reader's Guide to Terms Used in this Document Appendix 2. It is about life, the air we breathe, the food we eat, the water we drink, and the planet we share with our fellow inhabitants.
Biodiversity is the very fabric of our existence.
This Green Paper represents the phenomenal achievements we have made as a country. It is a victory for all those who have held on to their respect for the earth and their sometimes faltering belief in the goodness of humankind, in the face of trying and soul-destroying conditions. We have managed to let reason prevail and reason dictates that all people are equal, all forms of life deserve respect, and the earth is our provider and protector. Even though we are only slowly waking up to the realities of the global environmental disasters caused by humankind, there is a growing world-wide commitment to taking urgent steps to address our environmental problems, to create a better life for all, and to preserve our natural heritage for future generations. The 1992 United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity reflects the global concern at the rate at which biodiversity is being lost, and represents the commitment to urgent action to address this threatening global crisis.