Natural systems that support economies, lives and livelihoods across the planet are at risk of rapid degradation and collapse, unless there is swift, radical and creative action to conserve and sustainably use the variety of life on Earth.That is a principal conclusion of a major new assessment of the current state of biodiversity and the implications of its continued loss for human well-being. This third edition of Global Biodiversity Outlook confirms that the world has failed to meet its target to achieve a significant reduction in the rate of biodiversity loss by 2010.