The world is facing a cataclysmic extinction - up to a fifth of all living species may have ceased to exist within a generation. This atlas provides a reference to the species under threat and their habitats. With global maps, regional maps to illuminate various aspects, colour photographs of rare creatures, and case studies, it explains what is going on and why it is so important. Topics covering include: prehistory, early habitat loss and extinctions, measuring biodiversity, threats to biodiversity, ecosystems and their communities, conservation and sustainable development, planned reintroductions, trade and protected species, and endangered species. Features include: identification of species and genera, their status, definitions of all crucial terms, the value and use of threatened varieties, analysis of the main threats, and a fact file.