At the start of this century, a fashion for collecting and classifying specimens occasionally brought some of the species being studied to the brink of extinction.

As new techniques and technologies intensified the use of resources from land and sea to meet increasing demands, fears grew about the unsustainable rate of exploitation of some natural resources.

During the latter half of the century, increasing concerns about the loss of species and habitats led to a raft of protective legislation at European and UK levels.

Fears about dwindling natural resources throughout the world were voiced at the Earth Summit at Rio de Janeiro in 1992. The conference called on each nation to take primary responsibility for its own territory and to co-operate where possible with other countries to secure the future of the earth's resources. A strong theme at the Summit was the need to educate for, and to practice sustainable development. The UK made formal commitments to uphold both principles.

After the Earth Summit, the emphasis in conservation shifted. Concerns to protect individual species and habitats were subsumed into a wider vision for the health of the living environment as a whole, the Earth's biodiversity. Debates at the Earth Summit had focused on both the need to work towards sustainable economic and social development and the importance of minimising the consumption of irreplaceable resources. These debates led to the launch of the Agenda 21 initiative, and at UK level to a widespread consultation followed by the publication of the UK Action Plan for biodiversity, and the establishment of the UK Biodiversity Steering Group and the Scottish Biodiversity Group. All stressed the importance of working together in partnerships to reach agreed plans and create effective strategies.

Victorian collector

Biodiversity, The UK Steering
Group Report