Studies highlight growing urgency of preserving biodiversity.
A review of eight studies conducted by 30 scientists from Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands, published in the scientific journal Pacific Conservation Biology, has found that climate change is worsening the situation for flora and fauna in the Oceanian region, which is already severely impacted by intensive agriculture,
habitat loss, and other problems.

Land, marine, and freshwater environments are all affected. Recently, US scientists at the University of Miami in Florida also drew attention to the danger of ever-enlarging dead zones in the ocean, which are shrinking the habitat of all marine species, including fish. Their study evaluated the survival of blue marlin, billfish,
and tropical tuna, whose size and active movements necessitate large amounts of dissolved oxygen.

The researchers found that not only are the fish being deprived by dead zones of habitable regions, they are also being forced into waters closer to the surface where they are more vulnerable to fishing.

University of Miami researcher Dr. Jiangang Luo noted, (PhD) “In human terms, you might describe it as if you were in a house on fire with ... only one exit, then discovering you have a robber inside the house at the same time.” Despite a commitment made in 2002 by governments across the globe to protect 10% of the world's oceans and their inhabitants by 2012, the agreements created so far cover only a little more than １%.

Lead author of the Oceania study, Australian Professor Richard Kingsford of the University of New South Wales, spoke of the urgency of addressing these issues as he stated, "There are opportunities to mitigate some of these impacts but it requires planning now, not when future generations inherit the problem."
Many thanks, international scientists, for your efforts to inform the public of this alarming imbalance on our planet.

May we join in acting now to implement Earth-saving practices that protect and preserve all lives. Speaking with deep concern for the alarming loss of biodiversity, Supreme Master Ching Hai during an August 2009 videoconference in Thailand reminded of what humanity must do in order to ensure the continuation
of life on Earth.


http://www.pbl.nl/en/publications/2010/Rethinking_Global_Biodiversity_Strategies
http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2011/12/14/Fish-under-threat-in-ocean-dead-zones/UPI-95851323899140/#ixzz1gdl8CAv5
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/TechandScience/Story/STIStory_702598.html
http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2011/08/16/3294532.htm

Extra News
UK-based BBC news reported on December 23, 2011 that the nation's endangered fairy shrimp, a tiny beautiful crustacean that normally hatches around Christmas, faces increasing threats to its survival, as noted by scientists at the wildlife charity Pond Conservation, due to extended drought leaving many of its pools at risk of drying out completely.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/16303086

The US-based National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration stated on December 20, 2011 that 60 Ringed seals in the Arctic and Bering Strait regions of Alaska had perished, with 75 found still alive but suffering from skin lesions, and the cause still unknown.

http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/dec2011/2011-12-20-094.html
http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/１4f１5９a8１d6645f0acda９546cf１7２２aa/AK--Sick-Ringed-Seals/
http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/scientists-still-unsure-whats-causing-arctic-alaska-ringed-seals-die