Includes bibliographical references (p. 445-514) and index.; "Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity; United Nations Development Programme; United Nations Environment Programme; IUCN--The World Conservation Union."; What is biodiversity? -- How is biodiversity threatened by human activity? -- Ecosystem services -- Medicines from nature -- Biodiversity and biomedical research -- Threatened groups of organisms valuable to medicine -- Ecosystem disturbance, biodiversity loss, and human infectious disease -- Biodiversity and food production -- Genetically modified foods and organic farming -- What individuals can do to help conserve biodiversity -- Treaties, conventions, and intergovernmental organizations for the conservation of biodiversity -- Nongovernmental organizations working to conserve biodiversity.;