Rich nations to raise funding to save biodiversity

The UN’s Environment Program says developed countries have agreed to double their funding to support efforts in developing countries to halt the rate of loss of the planet’s biodiversity. An agency statement says the decision was taken at a UN biodiversity conference that ended in Hyderabad on Saturday. It didn’t give any figures. [caption id=“attachment_497698” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Reuters[/caption] The move is expected to help pursue 20 biodiversity targets, set up two years ago, aimed at halting the extinction of the world’s animals and plants and preventing further damage to its ecosystems. Scientists estimate the Earth is now losing species at 100 to 1,000 times the historical average, pushing the planet toward the greatest extinction age since the dinosaurs were wiped out 65 million years ago. AP