During the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in 1992, representatives from world-wide nations came to my city to discuss the importance of Biodiversity and to address plans to conserve it. In 2012, they came back for RIO +20, and even after 20 years Global Extinctions was still an issue of major concern.

According to the Information System for Brazilian Biodiversity (SiBBr), the estimated number of total species in Brazil is around  1,8 million, and the estimated number of known species is around 170/210 thousand that are spread among the 6 Brazilian biomes. Also, according SiBBr,  among the species already cataloged 28.47 % are Flora and 71.57 % are Fauna. Each single specie has its huge importance in the environment and in the maintenance of life, but they are also of crucial importance in the economic sphere.  The National Report of the Convention on Biological Diversity (MMA 1998) states that the agribusiness sector, for example, that benefits directly from the genetic heritage, accounts for about 40 % of national GDP (Gross Domestic Product).

Even Though it is not hard to Acknowled the important role of biodiversity, we still have alarming numbers relating to the population of some species. In the Chico Mendes Institute's Endangered Species List- 2014 they report 1173 endangered taxa, being 310 of these of Continental Fish, and 233 of Birds. In the IUCN Red List( 1996-2015), considered the most complete, they reported 80 thousand endangered taxa of Fauna and Flora. The numbers are very worrying for some species, such as the Marine Manatee a typical Brazilian Mammal.

The Marine Manatee is categorized by the Ministry of the Environment as a species in critical danger since 1989. At the beginning of 2016, there were only 500 manatees in the Brazilian waterfront. This problem is getting even worse because of illegal fishing, marine pollution, and the destruction of breeding areas.

The Marine Manatee is just an example of many other species of Fauna and Flora in my country that need our help to survive. I hope we can see extinctions only in history books from now long.