The study suggests that although the loss of the earth's biological diversity continues in the face of  human pressure and land use changes, conservation efforts have slowed the loss, and in the case of some species, brought them back from extinction.  For example, in New Zealand we have the case of the Black Robin, the takahe and the kakapo, all of which would have died out apart from active conservation efforts.  Overseas examples include the sea otter, the humpback whale, the Arabian Oryx, and more than 60 orther species.

As someone who has been actively involved as a participant or supporter of projects in the Waikato such as Maungatautari Ecological Island, Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park and other such efforts, I was heartened by the article.  Human expansion in the past 50 years has brought on an exinction spasm that equals the one that killed off the dinosaurs.  The way I see it, all our efforts to reduce the extinction rate will be a legacy to the future that beats anything else we can personally do.  Every single time we save a species from extinction, we make a gift to our children and grandchildren.